2027: Sani Abbas Not Our Governorship Candidate

The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected the claim by Barrister Mohammed Sani Abbas, that he emerged as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections, saying the issue of the party’s ticket in the state remains unresolved.

The Kaduna State chairman of the party, Evangelist Mordecai Sunday Ibrahim, disclosed this yesterday while addressing journalists at a press conference in Kaduna.

According to him, Abbas’ claim to have emerged as the party’s governorship candidate was false, as no valid process had been conducted to confer the ticket on him.

He said he voluntarily withdrew from the governorship race and formally communicated his decision to the national chairman of the party, with the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kaduna State copied.

According to him, the withdrawal letter, dated August 7, was received at the office of the NDC national chairman, while an affidavit was also executed in support of the withdrawal.

He added that the documents, alongside an INEC summary of candidates nominated by political parties for the 2027 general election, were made available at the press conference.

“Barrister Mohammed Sani Abbas is not the governorship candidate of the NDC in Kaduna State, as the matter is yet to be resolved through the appropriate party process,” he said.

He argued that following his withdrawal, the party could not simply recognise either Abbas or Senator Danjuma Tellah La’ah as the replacement candidate without complying with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.

Ibrahim cited Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026, arguing that the party was required to conduct a substitution primary election to produce a validly recognised candidate, particularly as the aspirants had failed to reach a consensus.

The NDC chairman however, urged members of the public and party supporters to disregard claims by individual aspirants concerning the governorship ticket until the appropriate party and electoral processes had been concluded.

According to him, the issue must be resolved in accordance with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act, rather than through competing claims by different camps.

Ibrahim also maintained that there was no evidence in the documents presented at the press conference to support Abbas’ claim that he participated in and won a governorship primary.

The text of the press conference was jointly signed by Ibrahim alongside the Kaduna South Senatorial District Chairman, Hon. Obed Danjuma; Kaduna South Central District Chairman, Hon. Aminu Idris; State Assistant Secretary, Emmanuel Dikko Dogara; State Woman Leader, Ruth David; Acting State Organising Secretary, Ibrahim Yunusa; State Legal Adviser, Barrister Barnabas John; State Auditor, Micah Ayuba; State Treasurer, Ayuba Yashim; Chikun Local Government Chairman and ALGON Chairman, Bitrus Yahaya; and Sabon Gari Local Government Chairman and ALGON Secretary, Sabiu Ibrahim.