2027: PDP Makes Surprise Move In Kano As Abacha’s Son Emerges Governorship Candidate

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State has made a major change to its 2027 governorship ticket, replacing its previously nominated candidate, Muhammad Bello Dalha, with Muhammad Sani Abacha, son of former military Head of State, Sani Abacha.
The development followed Dalha’s withdrawal from the governorship race after consultations with stakeholders in Kano and Abuja.
The replacement was formalised on Wednesday during an expanded meeting of the PDP State Executive Committee in Kano, where the party conducted an affirmation and replacement primary.
Speaking on the development, Kano PDP Chairman, Bello Gambo Bichi, explained that Dalha had voluntarily withdrawn after the earlier primary in which he emerged as the party’s candidate.
According to Bichi, the withdrawal necessitated a fresh process in accordance with electoral requirements.
He said: “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.”
Following the exercise, the chairman of the electoral panel, Abba Abdullahi, declared Abacha the winner, stating that the process complied with the party’s guidelines and applicable electoral regulations.
The party also announced a change to its deputy governorship ticket as part of efforts to resolve its internal divisions.
Yusuf Ado Kibiya, a former factional chairman of the PDP and former commissioner for land and agriculture, was named as the new deputy governorship candidate.
Bichi said the deputy governorship position had been allocated to the faction associated with Kabiru Tanimu Turaki following consultations and reconciliation efforts.
“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,” he said.
The PDP chairman added that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored the exercise.
He further disclosed that the party had made changes to some of its National Assembly and State Assembly candidates as part of the reconciliation process.
According to him, the adjustments were intended to accommodate members of the different factions and strengthen unity within the Kano PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.