Kaduna 2027: NDC has no governorship candidate yet, says state chairman

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has stated that it is yet to produce a governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Kaduna State, despite competing claims from former Senator Danjuma La’ah and lawyer Mohammed Abbas.

The State Chairman of the party, Evangelist Mordecai Ibrahim, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press conference in Kaduna, insisting that the dispute over the governorship ticket remains unresolved.

Ibrahim stated that the party must hold a substitution primary to elect a valid candidate following his voluntary withdrawal from the race.

“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,” Ibrahim said.

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The chairman explained that he was the NDC’s officially recognised governorship candidate until he formally stepped down. In line with Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026, he notified the NDC National Chairman and the Kaduna State Resident Electoral Commissioner of his withdrawal via a letter and affidavit dated August 7. He also displayed an INEC summary list of nominated candidates for the 2027 general election, which still reflected his name as the party’s candidate.

His withdrawal has triggered a fresh battle for the ticket between La’ah and Abbas.

Addressing Abbas’s claim to the nomination, Ibrahim dismissed it as baseless, accusing him of misleading the public about participating in a primary.

“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,” Ibrahim remarked, advising Abbas to focus instead on building his political base at the ward and local government levels.

Party leadership at the national level has similarly distanced itself from La’ah’s claims. The NDC Deputy National Chairman (North), Alhaji Sidi Bomi, dismissed a document circulating on social media that pointed to La’ah as the candidate, stating it was fake and unauthorized.

Despite the friction, Ibrahim acknowledged that two other aspirants, Zariyi Madaki and Ibrahim Abdulkarim, had previously stepped down in favor of La’ah during an initial consensus meeting at the party’s national secretariat. He described La’ah as an experienced politician who notably served two terms and was once the sole PDP senator in Kaduna State and the North-West region.

However, Ibrahim maintained that consensus had failed and propaganda would not resolve the impasse.

“By the provision of Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026, the Nigeria Democratic Congress is now only left with the option of organising a substitution primary election for a validly recognised candidate to emerge… anything short of this will be illegal,” he declared.

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