The Kaduna State chapter of the National Democratic Congress has rejected what it described as the imposition of its governorship candidate, calling on the party’s national leadership to immediately conduct a fresh primary election ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The chapter insisted that its members must be allowed to democratically elect their governorship flag bearer either through a consensus process or direct primary, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by Isaac Tanko Marafa Tsoriang, the party alleged that Mohammed Sani Abbas was imposed on the Kaduna chapter, maintaining that neither Abbas nor Senator Danjuma La’ah emerged through a valid nomination process as required by Section 87(1-3) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The party described the meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday, May 21, as “pure imposition” rather than reconciliation, consensus or a direct primary, arguing that the exercise was undemocratic and violated the Electoral Act.
“The teaming members of the Kaduna State chapter of NDC and the entire party leadership are demanding only one thing – conduct a primary election for the valid nomination of our candidate either through consensus or direct primary,” the statement said.
It added, “We want our state governorship candidate to validly and legally emerge. Kaduna State NDC members are about to be brazenly denied their constitutional right of electing their flag bearer and we shall vehemently oppose this undemocratic move.”
The chapter urged the national leadership of the party to respect the Electoral Act by allowing Kaduna members to choose their candidate, stressing that only party members in the state have the legal authority to elect the governorship candidate.
The party also cited Section 36 of the Electoral Act 2026, which empowers the Independent National Electoral Commission to extend the nomination period where no candidate has been validly nominated.
According to the statement, the provision gives the party another opportunity to conduct a lawful primary monitored by INEC and produce a candidate acceptable to both the electoral body and party members.
The Kaduna chapter warned that any attempt to submit the name of a candidate who did not emerge through a valid consensus or direct primary could deny the party the legal right to field a governorship candidate in the 2027 election.
It therefore appealed to the party’s national leadership to invoke the provisions of Section 36 of the Electoral Act by notifying INEC to supervise a fresh primary election, insisting that “anything short of this shall not augur well for the Kaduna State chapter of NDC.”
The chapter further noted that under the Electoral Act, a consensus candidate can only emerge after obtaining the written consent and voluntary withdrawal of all cleared aspirants. It added that where such consent cannot be secured, the party must revert to direct primaries before ratifying the eventual candidate through a properly constituted nomination congress.
