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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State has replaced Muhammad Bello Dalha with Muhammad Sani Abacha as its candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
Abacha, son of former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, emerged during a replacement primary conducted by the party in Kano on Wednesday, following Dalha’s withdrawal from the race.
The development was announced at an expanded meeting of the Kano State PDP Executive Committee, where the party formally affirmed Abacha as its new governorship candidate.
PDP State Chairman, Bello Gambo Bichi, said Dalha had won the party’s earlier primary but subsequently withdrew after consultations with party stakeholders in Kano and Abuja.
“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 Dalha’s withdrawal, the party’s electoral panel, chaired by Abba Abdullahi, declared Abacha the winner of the replacement primary after determining that he met the requirements for nomination.
The party also adjusted its deputy governorship ticket as part of its reconciliation efforts, allocating the position to the group associated with Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
Yusuf Ado Kibiya, a former PDP factional chairman and former commissioner for Land and Agriculture, was subsequently named as Abacha’s running mate.
Bichi said the changes followed consultations and reconciliation among the different groups within the Kano PDP. He also disclosed that some National Assembly and State Assembly candidates had been replaced as part of the arrangement.
“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.
Representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present during the replacement exercise, according to the PDP chairman. INEC has scheduled the 2027 governorship and State House of Assembly elections for February 6, 2027.
