The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) 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 an interview, dismissing as false a purported governorship ticket bearing La’ah’s name and circulating on social media.
The development coincides with the dispute surrounding the party’s Kaduna State governorship ticket, as Mohammed Abbas and La’ah have been connected to conflicting claims to the candidacy.
According to Bomi, the alleged paper that is making the rounds on social media does not originate from the party and should not be taken as proof of La’ah’s rise to the position of NDC governor.
“The Deputy National Chairman said Senator La’ah’s NDC governorship ticket circulating on social media is false,” Abbas said.
He also mentioned 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 stressed 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 also claimed that the party had uploaded his name as its governorship candidate.
Additionally, he maintained that La’ah was not involved in the process that led to his selection as the party’s nominee.
“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 also revealed 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 served as the Senate representative for the Kaduna South Senatorial District.
Abbas expressed optimism that La’ah will run for the Senate again, claiming that his political background may improve the party’s prospects 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.
In an attempt to bring the disparate tendencies inside the party together, Abbas also pledged to interact with La’ah and his followers.
“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’s groups, and youth groups.
“I don’t have any doubt that we are going to unify ourselves,” he said.
He called on Kaduna voters to consider the rising cost of living, insecurity, and the challenges confronting farmers when deciding who to support in the 2027 election.
“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.
