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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kebbi State has suffered a significant setback ahead of the 2027 general elections after failing to appear on the final list of governorship candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The omission leaves the PDP without a recognised governorship candidate on the list for the January 16, 2027, election, while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are among the parties represented.

The development has raised concerns about the PDP’s prospects of maintaining its position as a major opposition party in the state.

Findings by ZINGTIE indicate that the omission comes against the backdrop of prolonged internal disputes, defections by influential members and disagreements among party stakeholders over the forthcoming governorship election.

INEC’s final list features 14 candidates contesting for the governorship seat on different political platforms.

Governor Nasir Idris is listed as the APC candidate, while former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is representing the ADC.

Other candidates on the list include Basiru Musa of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Umar Faruk of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), alongside candidates from other political parties.

The PDP’s exclusion is particularly notable given its longstanding position as one of Nigeria’s major opposition parties and its previous participation in governorship contests in Kebbi State.

However, the exact circumstances behind the party’s absence from the final list have not been established.

ZINGTIE’s findings suggest that the development coincides with internal divisions that have weakened the PDP’s organisational structure in the state.

The party has also experienced the departure of prominent members, some of whom have defected to the APC and ADC ahead of the 2027 elections.

PDP members divided over Governor Idris’s second-term bid

One significant development occurred in August when a group of PDP stakeholders led by former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (retd.), announced their support for Governor Idris’s bid for a second term.

The group justified its position by pointing to what it described as the governor’s achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, education and empowerment programmes.

However, PDP State Chairman Usman Bello Suru rejected the endorsement, maintaining that the group’s declaration did not reflect the party’s official position.

The disagreement highlighted divisions among party leaders over Idris’s re-election bid and raised further questions about the PDP’s strategy ahead of the polls.

While some influential members expressed support for the incumbent governor, the state party leadership insisted that the PDP had already selected candidates for various elective positions.

The party’s 2023 governorship candidate, Maj.-Gen. Bello Sarkin Yaki (retd.), also endorsed Idris in August, stating that he had yet to find another individual whose leadership qualities, integrity and service record matched those of the sitting governor.

Sarkin Yaki made the remarks when the governor’s media team, led by the Commissioner for Information, Yakubu Ahmed BK, paid him a courtesy visit.

He appealed to those opposing Idris’s continued leadership to reconsider their stance, arguing that some of the governor’s critics were motivated by personal political interests.

The differing positions among PDP stakeholders have further complicated the party’s preparations for the 2027 governorship election.

ADC emerges as a major opposition contender

Meanwhile, Malami has become one of the prominent opposition figures in the developing contest, with the ADC positioning itself to challenge the ruling APC.

In August, the party inaugurated more than 600 members of its campaign council in Kebbi State as part of its preparations for the governorship election.

The state chapter of the ADC has also expressed confidence in its ability to compete against the ruling party and defeat Governor Idris at the polls.

With its campaign activities gathering momentum, Malami has emerged as one of the leading opposition figures seeking to secure the governorship seat in 2027.

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