The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State has deepened as Alhaji Muhammad Bello Dalha, who won the party’s governorship primary in May, denied voluntarily withdrawing from the 2027 race in favor of Muhammad Sani Abacha.

Dalha, in a statement dated October 29, 2026, said he had taken the matter to the Federal High Court to challenge the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove his name from the list of governorship candidates and publish Abacha’s name in his place.

He described reports of his withdrawal as incorrect, insisting that he had not voluntarily stepped down for Abacha, the son of former Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

“I have not voluntarily withdrawn my candidacy. The reports suggesting otherwise are incorrect and do not reflect my position,” he said.

Dalha alleged that he made several efforts to prevent INEC from acting on what he described as a disputed withdrawal claim, but the commission proceeded to recognize Abacha as the party’s candidate.

He said that, to his knowledge, there was no verifiable evidence that he had voluntarily withdrawn from the contest.

The governorship aspirant said he had resorted to the court to seek justice, urging the judiciary to examine the facts and allow the law to take its course.

“I remain committed to defending my position through lawful and constitutional means,” he said, while calling on his supporters, party members, and the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information.

The dispute followed a fresh exercise conducted by a faction of the PDP in Kano, which affirmed Abacha as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 general election.

At an expanded stakeholders’ meeting held on Wednesday, party leaders announced Abacha as their consensus choice and named the factional state chairman, Alhaji Ado Kibiya, as his running mate.

The development came months after Dalha defeated Abacha in the party’s governorship primary held in May 2026.

At that primary, chaired by Umar Hadejia, Dalha polled 2,233 votes to defeat Abacha, who secured 749 votes.

However, addressing stakeholders at the latest meeting, the PDP factional chairman in Kano, Dr. Bello Gambo Bichi, said Abacha’s emergence followed Dalha’s withdrawal from the race.

Bichi argued that the party was required to conduct a replacement primary following the withdrawal of its initial candidate, adding that the process complied with the party’s constitution, guidelines, and applicable electoral laws.

“We have gathered today to undertake the process of affirming our party’s candidate for the forthcoming Kano State governorship election after the withdrawal of Mohammad Dalhatu,” he said.

He added that Abacha had been presented as the party’s consensus choice after reconciliation and consultations among stakeholders.

Also speaking, the chairman of the PDP governorship replacement primary election panel, Dr. Abba Abdullahi, declared Abacha the lawful replacement for Dalha, saying the exercise was conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution, guidelines, and relevant electoral regulations.

Abdullahi said the party had verified that Abacha met the requirements for nomination as its governorship candidate.

Dalha, however, has challenged the claim that he voluntarily withdrew, setting the stage for a legal battle over who is entitled to represent the PDP in the 2027 Kano governorship election. (Weekend Trust)