2027: NDC disowns La’ah’s Kaduna gov ticket

Nigerian Democratic Congress logo. Photo: NDC

The Nigeria Democratic Congress has denied issuing a governorship ticket to Danjuma La’ah ahead of the 2027 Kaduna State governorship election.

The party’s Deputy National Chairman, North, Alhaji Sidi Abdul Bomi, stated this in a telephone interview with The PUNCH at the weekend, dismissing as false a purported governorship ticket bearing La’ah’s name and circulating on social media.

The development comes amid controversy over the party’s governorship ticket in Kaduna State, with Mohammed Abbas and La’ah linked to competing claims over the party’s nomination.

Bomi said the purported document circulating on social media did not emanate from the party and should not be relied upon as evidence of La’ah’s emergence as the NDC governorship candidate.

The party chieftain’s position was also referenced by Abbas, who has insisted that he remains the legitimate NDC governorship candidate in Kaduna State.

Abbas, speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, said the party’s national leadership had already clarified the matter.

“The Deputy National Chairman said Senator La’ah’s NDC governorship ticket circulating on social media is false,” Abbas said.

He added that when the purported document was forwarded to the party’s national secretary for verification, the official also questioned its authenticity.

“When it was sent to the national secretary, he said, ‘I think it should be a false document,’” Abbas quoted the national secretary as saying.

Abbas maintained that he obtained the NDC governorship nomination form within the stipulated period, underwent screening and participated in the primary election conducted by the party.

“The party set up a primary election committee to conduct the primaries. They came to Kaduna, conducted the primaries and wrote their report that I won,” he said.

He further claimed that the party had uploaded his name as its governorship candidate.

“The party has already uploaded my name. There is no way to become a candidate without going through the process, except you are a replacement,” Abbas said.

• FAAC boost: Kaduna clears N18bn arrears, farm budget hits N100bn
• 2027: Atiku, Obi make final moves on campaign councils
• Political campaign: Time for accountability

He also insisted that La’ah did not participate in the process that produced him as the party’s candidate.

“He wasn’t screened. If he was screened, it must have been privately because we didn’t see him at the screening venue. And he didn’t come for the primaries.

“So how do you give the ticket to a person who didn’t participate in the primaries?” he said.

The NDC candidate further disclosed that he was instrumental in bringing La’ah into the party, insisting that the ex-lawmaker initially joined the NDC to pursue the Kaduna South senatorial seat and not the governorship.

“I brought him to the NDC. He was looking for the Senate seat. He wasn’t looking for the governorship seat,” Abbas said.

La’ah previously represented Kaduna South Senatorial District in the Senate.

Abbas said he was hopeful that La’ah would return to the senatorial contest, arguing that his political experience could add value to the party’s chances in 2027.

“I am hoping and praying that he will take the offer that the party has for him for the Senate seat. I know he is a strong campaigner. If he takes it, he’ll add value to the ticket,” he said.

Abbas also promised to engage La’ah and his supporters as part of efforts to reconcile the different tendencies within the party.

“I am going to be in Kafanchan for three days. I’ll reach out to all the major stakeholders. I’ll meet with the chairman first, then the ward chairmen, elders, women groups and youth groups.

“I don’t have any doubt that we are going to unify ourselves,” he said.

He urged Kaduna voters to consider the rising cost of living, insecurity and the challenges confronting farmers when deciding who to support in the 2027 election.