The Nigeria Democratic Congress has said it has 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 at a press conference in Kaduna, insisting that the controversy over the party’s governorship ticket remained unresolved.

Ibrahim said the party would have to conduct a substitution primary to produce a valid candidate, following his withdrawal from the race.

He said, “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.”

The chairman explained that he was the party’s recognised governorship candidate until he voluntarily withdrew from the race.

According to him, he formally notified the NDC National Chairman and the Kaduna State Resident Electoral Commissioner of his withdrawal in accordance with Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026.

Ibrahim said he submitted a withdrawal letter dated August 7, which was received at the office of the national chairman, as well as an affidavit in support of his withdrawal.

He also presented what he described as an INEC summary of candidates nominated by political parties for the 2027 general election, which listed his name as the NDC governorship candidate.

PUNCH Online reports that the development has triggered a fresh dispute over who should inherit the party’s ticket, with La’ah and Abbas laying competing claims to the nomination.

A faction of the party had denied issuing a governorship ticket to La’ah.

The NDC Deputy National Chairman, North, Alhaji Sidi Bomi, was also quoted as dismissing a purported document bearing La’ah’s name and circulating on social media.

Bomi reportedly said the document did not emanate from the party and should not be relied upon as evidence that La’ah had emerged as the NDC candidate.

Abbas has also maintained that he remains the legitimate governorship candidate of the party.

However, the chairman rejected the claim, accusing Abbas of falsely claiming to have participated in and won a governorship primary.

He said, “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. Nothing can be farther from the truth than this dishonest claim.”

Ibrahim said the party could not resolve the controversy through propaganda or competing claims, insisting that the appropriate internal electoral process must be followed.

He stated, “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.”

The chairman further disclosed that two other governorship aspirants, Zariyi Madaki and Ibrahim Abdulkarim, had withdrawn from the race in favour of La’ah at the first consensus meeting held at the party’s national secretariat.

He described La’ah as a politician with significant experience, noting that the former senator served two terms and was, at one point, the only PDP senator in Kaduna State and the North-West.

Ibrahim, however, advised Abbas to concentrate on strengthening his political structure at the ward and local government levels. He said, “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.”

The chairman’s declaration has further deepened the crisis within the NDC in Kaduna State as the party and aspirants begin preparations for the 2027 governorship election.

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