The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected claims that Barrister Mohammed Sani Abbas is the party’s recognised governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

The state chapter maintained that no valid governorship primary election was conducted to produce the party’s candidate for the upcoming election.

According to the party’s state leadership, efforts were initially made to produce a consensus candidate among the aspirants, but the discussions ended without an agreement.

The chapter therefore argued that recognising Abbas without a properly conducted primary or valid consensus process would amount to imposing a candidate on the state chapter.

The party urged its national leadership to allow members in Kaduna State to choose their governorship candidate through a transparent and legally recognised process.

It also called for the Independent National Electoral Commission to monitor the process to ensure that the eventual candidate emerges through a valid procedure.

The controversy has created tension within the Kaduna NDC, with different factions presenting competing claims over who should fly the party’s flag in the 2027 governorship election.

Abbas and his supporters, however, maintain that he went through the required nomination process and emerged from a primary conducted by the party.

The dispute has also involved other aspirants, including former Senator Danjuma La’ah, whose supporters have challenged Abbas to provide documentary evidence of the primary that allegedly produced him.

The Kaduna chapter warned that imposing a candidate without following the required electoral procedures could undermine the party’s chances in the 2027 election.

It urged the national leadership to resolve the dispute quickly and ensure that the party enters the election with a legitimate and broadly accepted candidate.