Court affirms Abacha’s son as Kano PDP governorship candidate

A federal high court in Kano has affirmed Muhammad Abacha, son of Sani Abacha, the late head of state, as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Delivering the judgment virtually on Thursday, Abdullahi Liman, the presiding judge, nullified the primary that produced Sadiq Wali.

The judge held that the lawful primary was the one monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which produced Abacha.

Consequently, Liman ordered INEC to recognise Abacha as the PDP governorship candidate for Kano state.

There were parallel governorship primaries in the state, with one producing Abacha and the other Sadiq Wali.

Abacha thereafter instituted a suit against INEC as the first defendant, Wali as the second defendant, PDP as the third, and Wada Sagagi, Kano APC chairman, as the fourth defendant.

Reacting to the court ruling, the state chairman described the judgment as “a victory of democracy”. 

“It is a primary election conducted by my leadership. The court has made it clear that Abacha is the authentic candidate,” Sagagi said.

Sagagi appealed to all the aggrieved members to unite in order to secure victory for the party in 2023.

He also asked Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the PDP, to resign from office in the interest of the party members.

He alleged that the national chairman is to blame for the problem affecting the party across the country.