The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released names of Kano State governorship candidates for 2023 elections, excluding Mohammed Abacha, the son of former Military Head of State.

Abacha is the governorship candidate of the court-backed faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano.

The electoral umpire approved Sadiq Wali and Yusuf Bello Danbatta as gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates of the PDP in Kano.

Wali is a son of former Minister of Foreign Affairs.

It would be recalled that intra-party conflicts and litigations following parallel leadership structure troubled the PDP which led to factional primary elections in Kano.

However, a Federal High Court gave a favourable judgement for the Hon. Shehu Wada Sagagi-led faction that produced Mohammed Abacha as the governorship candidate of the party.

Buhari: Ekiti, Osun elections, proof of my commitment to credible polls

The other faction of the party led by Senator Bello Hayatu Gawarzo, who is the North-West vice chairman of the party, produced Sadiq Wali as the governorship candidate of its faction in a parallel primary election.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Kano State, Prof. Riskuwa Shehu, had earlier told journalists that INEC recognised Mohammed Abacha as the rightful candidate having been produced by the faction that was recognised by court of law.

Reacting to the development that creates confusion in the PDP in the state, INEC Public Relations Officer in Kano, Ahmad Adam Maulud, said the commission at the Kano office submitted the results of the primaries it had monitored to the headquarters of the electoral umpire in Abuja but they were sent the list they pasted on Friday.

“Whoever wishes to seek any clarification should contact national body of his or her party for any information,” Maulud said.

The Star