Kaduna 2027: NDC Ticket Quagmire Ends as Danjuma La’ah Emerges Candidate

The long-running controversy over the governorship ticket of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kaduna State has been resolved, with former Kaduna South Senator, Danjuma La’ah, emerging as the party’s candidate for the 2027 governorship election.

La’ah secured the ticket after winning the party’s substitution primary conducted in Kaduna on Sunday, September 20, bringing to an end weeks of uncertainty and competing claims over who would represent the NDC in the state.

Four aspirants participated in the exercise.

La’ah polled 6,990 votes to emerge ahead of Ibrahim Abdulkarim, who scored 530 votes. Mohammed Sani Abbas came third with 402 votes, while Zariyi-Yusuf Madaki received 194 votes.

The result was announced by the returning officer, Dr Danlami Rukujet.

The primary became necessary after the party failed to reach a consensus on a candidate following the withdrawal of the Kaduna State chairman, Mordecai Ibrahim, from the governorship race.

The development had previously generated competing claims involving La’ah and Mohammed Sani Abbas.

In August, the Kaduna NDC chairman said neither La’ah nor Abbas had been formally recognised as the party’s candidate and stated that a substitution primary was required to produce a valid candidate.

The completion of the substitution primary has now provided the party with a candidate ahead of preparations for the 2027 election.

Following his emergence, La’ah thanked NDC members and supporters for their confidence in him.

He said the party would now shift its attention towards preparations for the 2027 governorship election.

The Kaduna State NDC chairman, Modecai Ibrahim, also said the party would campaign on issues and policies as it seeks to present its programme to voters.

La’ah previously represented Kaduna South Senatorial District in the Senate and had been adopted by the Kaduna NDC leadership in July, although the party subsequently faced disagreements over the formal process for producing its governorship candidate.

With the substitution primary concluded, La’ah is now the NDC’s reported flag bearer for the Kaduna governorship race, subject to the applicable electoral and nomination processes.

The development marks a new phase for the party as it begins preparations for the 2027 Kaduna governorship contest.