PDP Factions Unite In Kano, Picks Abacha As Gov Candidate

The Kano state chapter of the  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has picked Muhammad Sani Abacha as the party’s 2027 governorship candidate. The PDP governorship hopeful is the son of the late military dictaor, General Sani Abacha, who died in office in 1998.

This is not the first time Abacha is contesting the state governorship election.

According to the PDP, his choiceas the party’s governroship candidate became necessary after Muhammadu Bello Halda, who had earlier won the pimary to represents the party in next year’selection, stepped down.

As a result of the development, the PDP said a fresh primary was conducted where Abacha emrged as its candidate, saying the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  was present at the primary election .

The state PDP Chairman, Dr Bello Gambo Bichi, said all the statkeholders agreed to the candidature of Abacha, including the Taminu Turaki faction, whose candidate has  been picked as runingm ate to in the governrshipelection next year.

Bichi said the decision to bring on board, Yusuf Ado Kibiya, a former factional PDP chairman and former Commissioner for Land and Agriculture, the PDP Deputy Governorship candidate was neccessary to unite the party in the state ahed the election, adding that there’snolonger fations inthe state, as all the stakeholders were now united.

The magazine reports that two groups in the party led by FCT Minister , Nyesom Wike and Turaki,aformer Ministe of Speial Duties, are still in court to determine which one is the authentic leadership.

Bichi,however, stated that the twofactions are united in Kanostate and agreed to sharing the governorship ticket, saying that the decision by the former governorship candidate tostep down for Abacha,was in line with the Electoral Act,which says where a candidate steps down as a  torch bearer, the party can conduct fresh primary to replace him/her.

Bichi: “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.”

He added: “After a wide consultation and reconciliation, we agreed to give the deputy governorship slot to the Turaki faction here in Kano. With this, there is no faction in Kano PDP. We have reconciled.”