The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State has named Alhaji Muhammad Sani Abacha, son of Nigeria’s late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, as its governorship candidate for next year’s election.
The party said the decision followed the withdrawal of the earlier nominee, Muhammad Bello Dalha.
At an expanded state executive committee meeting in Kano on Wednesday, the state party Chairman Dr. Bello Gambo Bichi, said an affirmation was conducted in line with the party’s constitution and electoral laws.
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,” Bichi explained.
The affirmation was followed by a replacement primary election where Abacha was formally declared winner by the panel chairman, Dr. Abba Abdullahi.
Abdullahi confirmed that the exercise was conducted in line with the party’s guidelines and electoral regulations, and that Abacha had satisfied all requirements for nomination.
As part of reconciliation efforts, the party also resolved its internal factional disputes by conceding the deputy governorship slot to the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki group.
As a result, the former factional Chairman of the party and ex‑commissioner for land and agriculture, Alhaji Yusuf Ado Kibiya, was named as the new deputy governorship candidate.
“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, adding that representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) witnessed the process.
The PDP chairman also disclosed that some National Assembly and State Assembly candidates were also replaced as part of the reconciliation process to accommodate the faction.
He insisted that the party was now united and “waxing stronger” ahead of the polls.
Abacha has been the party’s candidate in consecutive elections.
In 2023 governorship election, he came a distant third, trailing the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election won by the then New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
