2027: KADUNA NDC YET TO DECIDE GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE — CHAIRMAN. (PHOTO).

 2027: Kaduna NDC Yet To Decide Governorship Candidate — Chairman

The Nigeria Democratic Congress has said it has not yet settled on its governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Kaduna State, despite competing claims by former Senator Danjuma La’ah and lawyer Mohammed Abbas.

The state chairman of the party, Evangelist Mordecai Ibrahim, made this known on Wednesday during a press conference in Kaduna, stating that the dispute over the party’s governorship ticket remained unresolved.

Ibrahim explained that the party would need to conduct a substitution primary to produce a recognised candidate following his withdrawal from the race.

He said, “The bitter truth is that both at the state and national levels, the decision as to who is the governorship candidate of Kaduna State, whether Barrister Mohammed Sani Abbas or Senator Danjuma Tellah La’ah, has not been taken.”

The chairman said he remained the party’s recognised governorship candidate until he voluntarily stepped down.

According to him, he formally informed the NDC National Chairman and the Kaduna State Resident Electoral Commissioner of his withdrawal, in line with Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026.

Ibrahim said his withdrawal letter, dated August 7, was received at the office of the national chairman, alongside an affidavit supporting the decision.

He also displayed what he described as an INEC summary of candidates submitted by political parties for the 2027 general election, which listed him as the NDC governorship candidate.

The development has sparked renewed controversy over who should take over the party’s ticket, with La’ah and Abbas laying separate claims to the nomination.

A faction of the party had earlier denied issuing a governorship ticket to La’ah.

The NDC Deputy National Chairman, North, Alhaji Sidi Bomi, was also reported to have dismissed a document circulating on social media which purportedly showed La’ah as the party’s candidate.

Bomi reportedly said the document did not originate from the party and could not be regarded as proof that La’ah had emerged as the NDC governorship candidate.

Meanwhile, Abbas has continued to insist that he is the legitimate candidate of the party.

Ibrahim, however, rejected the claim and accused Abbas of falsely stating that he participated in and won a governorship primary.

He said, “It is highly unfortunate for a member of the temple of justice to spew such lies that he participated in a primary election which he won, knowing same to be outright falsehood. Nothing can be farther from the truth than this dishonest claim.”

The chairman maintained that the dispute could not be resolved through competing claims or propaganda, stressing that the party must follow the proper electoral procedure.

He said, “By the provision of Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026, Nigeria Democratic Congress is now only left with the option of organising a substitution primary election for a validly recognised candidate to emerge since they have been unable to reach a consensus – thus anything short of this will be illegal.”

Ibrahim further disclosed that two other aspirants, Zariyi Madaki and Ibrahim Abdulkarim, had withdrawn from the governorship contest in support of La’ah during the party’s first consensus meeting at its national secretariat.

He described La’ah as an experienced politician, noting that the former senator served two terms and was once the only PDP senator representing Kaduna State and the North-West.

The chairman, however, advised Abbas to focus on building his political support at the ward and local government levels.

He said, “Every politician worth his onion will first make sure his ward and local government are on his side because charity must always begin at home.”

The latest development has further heightened the crisis within the NDC in Kaduna State as the party and its aspirants prepare for the 2027 governorship election.

The statement was endorsed by members of the Kaduna State Working Committee, including Kaduna South Senatorial District Chairman, Obed Danjuma; Kaduna South Central District Chairman, Aminu Idris; State Assistant Secretary, Emmanuel Dogara; State Woman Leader, Ruth David; Acting Organising Secretary, Ibrahim Yunusa; Legal Adviser, Barnabas John; Auditor, Micah Ayuba; Treasurer, Ayuba Yashim; Welfare Secretary, Gideon Nuhu; Chikun Local Government Chairman and ALGON Chairman, Commander Bitrus Yahaya; and Sabon Gari Local Government Chairman and ALGON Secretary, Sabiu Ibrahim.