Ahead of 2027, the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has adopted Danjuma La’ah, a two term Senator who represented Kaduna South Senatorial District in the 8th and 9th National Assemblies, as Governorship Candidate.

La’ah will contest against the incumbent Governor Uba Sani who is seeking the second term ticket for Kashim Ibrahim Government House in 2027.

Besides, the adoption of Senator La’ah was ratified at an Expanded State Working Committee meeting of NDC , held in Kaduna on Saturday, where members of the State Executive Committee, zonal officers and chairmen from 22 of the 23 local government areas unanimously endorsed his candidature.

The motion for his adoption was moved by the Party Chairman in Lere Local Government Area, Abdulrasheed Shehu, and seconded by his counterpart in Igabi Local Government Area, Umar Mohammed Rigasa.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Kaduna State chairman of the NDC, Mordecai Ibrahim, said the decision to adopt La’ah came as a surprise because it was initiated by party stakeholders from the Northern Senatorial Zone.

He said, “the adoption took me by surprise. The initiative came from Zone One. The local government chairmen met and resolved that Senator Danjuma Laah should be adopted. I did not expect it because we had not conducted governorship primaries”.

Ibrahim explained that the party had earlier attempted to arrive at a consensus candidate among four governorship aspirants, but the process did not succeed.

According to him, while consultations were ongoing, “La’ah appeared before the State Working Committee with a nomination form issued by the party’s national secretariat and evidence of payment for his expression of interest and nomination forms for the governorship”.

“We had four aspirants, Yusuf Zari Madaki, Mohammed Sani Abbas, Ibrahim Husseini Abdukarim and Senator Danjuma Laah. While we were trying to bring everybody together, Senator Laah came with a nomination form issued by the National Secretariat. I had no power to reject it because a nomination form is meant for a candidate,” he added.

Ibrahim also remarked that the expanded meeting, comprising members of the State Working Committee, State Executive Committee, zonal officers and local government chairmen, unanimously endorsed the former Senator’s candidature.

The NDC State Chairman expressed confidence that the party would emerge victorious in the 2027 governorship election, dismissing concerns over the advantage of incumbency.

Meanwhile, speaking shortly after his adoption, La’ah thanked party leaders and members for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to provide inclusive and people-oriented leadership if elected governor.

“I have always been prepared for this responsibility. Whenever your people call on you to serve, you must be ready. I am prepared to serve everyone without fear or favour, irrespective of tribe, religion or ethnic group,” he said.

The former lawmaker promised to prioritise good governance, job creation and the fulfilment of campaign promises.

“I will not be a person who makes promises and fail. I will only make promises that I can fulfil. The people deserve a government that keeps its word and delivers on its commitments,” he said.

La’ah further stressed that his ambition was not driven by personal rivalry with Governor Sani but by a desire to offer Kaduna residents an alternative leadership.

He also called on the people of Southern Kaduna to rally behind his aspiration, describing his emergence as a significant opportunity for the zone.

“They have never had the opportunity to produce a governorship candidate from Southern Kaduna. Now that the opportunity has come, they should unite and support me so that together we can build a better Kaduna State”, he said.

La’ah also described the “Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a party open to all Nigerians irrespective of tribe or religion”, saying its mission is to promote unity, justice and inclusive development across the country.