Abacha Returns As Kano PDP Guber Candidate

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State has replaced its earlier governorship candidate, Muhammad Bello Dalhatu, with Muhammad Sani Abacha, son of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, ahead of the 2027 election.

The development followed Dalhatu’s withdrawal from the race, with the party conducting a replacement process on Wednesday to select a new candidate.

Speaking at an expanded meeting of the Kano State PDP executive committee, the state chairman, Dr Bello Gambo Bichi, said the replacement followed consultations among party stakeholders in Kano and Abuja.

He said Dalhatu had emerged from the party’s earlier governorship primary but subsequently decided to withdraw from the contest.

“Last time we did a primary election in which Muhammad Bello Dalha was declared the 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.

The replacement exercise was overseen by a panel chaired by Dr Abba Abdullahi, who declared Abacha the winner after the candidate met the nomination requirements.

Abdullahi said the exercise was conducted in accordance with the party’s guidelines and applicable electoral regulations.

The process was witnessed by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

PDP Resolves Factional Dispute

As part of efforts to reconcile the factions within the Kano PDP, the party also allocated the deputy governorship slot to the group associated with former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.

Consequently, Alhaji Yusuf Ado Kibiya, a former factional chairman of the party and former Commissioner for Land and Agriculture, was named as Abacha’s running mate.

Bichi said the decision followed extensive consultations and reconciliation efforts among the party’s different factions.

“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 the Kano PDP. We have reconciled,” he said.

The chairman also disclosed that some candidates for the National Assembly and Kano State House of Assembly had been replaced as part of the reconciliation arrangement.

He said the changes were intended to accommodate members of the previously opposing faction and strengthen unity within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Abacha’s Return

Abacha is returning to the Kano governorship race after previously contesting the position.

He sought the PDP governorship ticket earlier this year but lost the party’s primary to Dalhatu, who polled 2,233 votes against Abacha’s 749.

Abacha also contested the 2019 Kano governorship election under the platform of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance.

His latest emergence as the PDP candidate follows Dalhatu’s withdrawal and the party’s subsequent replacement process.