PDP Picks Abacha's Son As Kano Governorship Candidate
By Victor Idajili
The Peoples Democratic Party in Kano State has named Alhaji Muhammad Sani Abacha, son of former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, as its governorship candidate for next year's election.
The decision followed the withdrawal of the party's earlier candidate, Muhammad Bello Dalha.
The party's state chairman, Dr. Bello Gambo Bichi, announced this at an expanded State Executive Committee meeting in Kano on Wednesday, saying an affirmation exercise was conducted in line with the party's constitution and electoral laws.
"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," Bichi said.
"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 affirmation, a replacement primary was held where Abacha was formally declared winner by the panel chairman, Dr. Abba Abdullahi, who said the exercise complied with party guidelines and electoral regulations and that Abacha met all requirements for nomination.
As part of reconciliation efforts, the party also resolved its internal crisis by ceding the deputy governorship slot to the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki faction. The former factional chairman 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 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission witnessed the process.
He also disclosed that some National Assembly and State Assembly candidates were replaced to accommodate members of the other faction, insisting the party is now united and stronger ahead of the election.
Abacha has been the party's governorship candidate in consecutive elections. In the 2023 election, he finished a distant third behind the APC, in the poll won by the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
