Kaduna State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rt. Hon. Shehu Usman Bawa, popularly known as ABG, has expressed confidence that the party will win the 2027 governorship election, promising a new approach to security, infrastructure and governance.
Bawa, a former member of the House of Representatives, made the declaration during an interaction with journalists in Kaduna, where he said the PDP was engaging communities and stakeholders across the state to regain public trust ahead of the election.
The PDP candidate said his campaign would focus on a people-driven style of leadership, arguing that government projects should reflect the real needs of communities rather than decisions made without proper consultation.
“We were actually going out to enlighten the public on why they need to vote this government out,” Bawa said, insisting that public resources must be used to address issues identified by residents.
He promised that his administration, if elected, would adopt what he described as a “bottom-to-top approach” by allowing communities to have a stronger voice in determining development priorities, including water, healthcare and infrastructure needs.
On security, Bawa said he would introduce a different strategy aimed at protecting farmers, traders and residents from attacks, stressing that government must act before criminals strike. “You don’t have to wait for them to attack for you to protect them. You go for them. You follow them right where they are,” he said.
The PDP governorship hopeful also dismissed claims that the opposition party lacked the structure to challenge the ruling APC in Kaduna, saying the party’s grassroots network remained strong across the state’s 23 local government areas. “The structure they used is a PDP structure. That structure still remains the way it is,” he said.
Bawa added that the PDP would continue to campaign on accountability and its manifesto, promising that its candidates would take responsibility for their commitments if elected. “All parties should have a manifesto, and if you go by your manifesto, you shouldn’t shift the goalposts,” he said.