The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has not officially settled on a governorship candidate for Kaduna State ahead of the 2027 general election, according to the party’s state chairman, Mordecai Ibrahim.
Ibrahim made this known on Wednesday at a press conference in Kaduna, as the dispute over the party’s governorship ticket continued between former Senator Danjuma La’ah and lawyer Mohammed Sani Abbas.
He said neither La’ah nor Abbas had been formally recognised by the party as its candidate, adding that the matter remained unresolved at both the state and national levels.
Ibrahim said the party would have to conduct a substitution primary following his withdrawal from the governorship race.
The state chairman explained that he had previously been the NDC’s recognised governorship candidate but voluntarily stepped down after formally notifying the party’s national chairman and the Kaduna State Resident Electoral Commissioner.
He said his withdrawal letter, dated August 7, was received at the office of the national chairman and that he also submitted an affidavit backing his decision.
Ibrahim also presented what he described as an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) summary of candidates nominated by political parties for the 2027 general election, which listed him as the NDC’s governorship candidate.
He said, “The bitter truth is that both at the state and national levels, the decision as to who the governorship candidate of Kaduna State, whether Barrister Mohammed Sani Abbas or Senator Danjuma Tellah La’ah, has not been taken.”
The clarification comes amid competing claims by La’ah and Abbas over the party’s ticket.
A faction of the NDC had earlier denied issuing a governorship ticket to La’ah, while the party’s Deputy National Chairman, North, Alhaji Sidi Bomi, reportedly rejected a document circulating on social media purportedly showing that La’ah had emerged as the party’s candidate.
Bomi was quoted as saying the document did not originate from the party and should not be regarded as evidence of La’ah’s nomination.
Abbas, on the other hand, has continued to maintain that he is the legitimate NDC governorship candidate.
Ibrahim dismissed the claim, accusing the lawyer of falsely asserting that he participated in and won a governorship 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,” he said.
The state chairman said the dispute could not be resolved through competing claims or propaganda, insisting that the party must adhere to its prescribed electoral procedures.
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 race in support of La’ah during the first consensus meeting held at the party’s national secretariat.
He described La’ah as an experienced politician who served two terms in the Senate and was, at one point, the only Peoples Democratic Party senator representing Kaduna State and the North-West.
However, Ibrahim advised Abbas to concentrate on strengthening his political base at the ward and local government levels.
“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,” he said.
The state chairman’s position is likely to further fuel the disagreement over the NDC’s governorship ticket as the party prepares for the 2027 Kaduna State governorship election.
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