The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State has named Muhammad Sani Abacha, son of former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, as its candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
Abacha emerged after the party’s earlier candidate, Muhammad Bello Dalha, withdrew from the race following consultations with party stakeholders in Kano and Abuja.
The development was confirmed on Wednesday, September 16, during an expanded meeting of the Kano State PDP executive committee.
The meeting also featured a replacement primary to fill the vacancy created by Dalha’s withdrawal.
The Kano PDP chairman, Bello Gambo Bichi, explained that Dalha had initially emerged as the party’s governorship candidate after winning its earlier primary.
He, however, later stepped down, making another primary necessary under the party’s rules and electoral requirements.
“Last time we did a primary election in which Muhammad Bello Dalha was declared winner. But following consultations among stakeholders in Kano and Abuja, the candidate decided to withdraw.
“The law says that as a result of withdrawal, a replacement primary must be held. That is what brought us here today. We have affirmed Muhammad Sani Abacha as the gubernatorial candidate of our great party in Kano State,” Bichi said.
Following the affirmation, the party proceeded with the replacement primary.
The electoral panel chairman, Abba Abdullahi, declared Abacha the winner of the exercise.
He said the process was conducted in accordance with the PDP’s guidelines and applicable electoral regulations. He also said Abacha fulfilled the requirements for nomination.
The replacement of Dalha with Abacha is one of the latest changes to the PDP’s structure in Kano as the party prepares for the 2027 general election.
The party has also changed its deputy governorship candidate.
Yusuf Ado Kibiya, a former PDP factional chairman and former Commissioner for Land and Agriculture in Kano State, was selected as Abacha’s running mate.
The decision was linked to the reconciliation efforts involving different groups within the Kano PDP.
Bichi said the deputy governorship position was conceded to the faction associated with former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
He said the arrangement was part of the efforts to end the factional disagreements that had affected the party in the state.
“After wide consultation and reconciliation, we agreed to give the deputy governorship slot to the Turaki faction here in Kano. With this, there is no more faction in Kano PDP. We have reconciled,” Bichi said.
The party chairman further disclosed that the reconciliation was not limited to the governorship ticket.
According to him, some candidates previously selected to contest National Assembly and Kano State House of Assembly seats were also replaced.
The changes were reportedly made to accommodate members of the different groups within the party and create a broader power-sharing arrangement ahead of the election.
Representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present during the replacement exercise, according to the PDP leadership.
Abacha previously contested the governorship election in Kano under the PDP in 2023.
In that election, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) won the governorship, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) came second and Abacha finished third, according to reports on the previous contest.