The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Shehu Usman Bawa, has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) over claims that there is no strong opposition in the state ahead of the 2027 election.

Bawa, popularly known as ABG, said the ruling party’s concern about the opposition contradicted its claim that the PDP and other opposition parties posed no threat.

“If there’s no opposition, why are they worried?” Bawa asked APC while speaking with journalists in an interview on Saturday at his campaign office in Kaduna.

He added: “By February, by God’s grace, everybody will find out if they have an opposition or not.”

The PDP candidate was responding to claims attributed to the APC that there was no strong opposition in Kaduna State capable of challenging the ruling party in the 2027 governorship election.

Bawa said the PDP remained active across the state and was engaging stakeholders and communities as part of its preparations for the election.

He maintained that despite the movement of some elected politicians away from the PDP after the 2023 elections, the party’s grassroots structure remained intact.

“The structure they used is a PDP structure. That structure still remains the way it is,” he said.

According to him, many of the supporters who backed PDP candidates in the 2023 election had remained with the party.

“The same people that voted for them, those supporters that have actually been following day and night, they are still there in PDP,” he said.

Bawa said the party would rely on its existing structure as it prepares for the 2027 election.

“We have our party. The structure is still intact, and that is the same structure we’re using for 2027. We believe in 2027 we’ll get more votes,” he said.

He said the PDP was also taking its campaign to communities to explain its plans and make a case for a change of government.

Bawa said the party’s campaign would not depend solely on rallies or billboards, stressing that direct engagement with voters remained important.

“It is not by rally or by putting billboards that will give you victory,” he said.

He also expressed confidence in the party’s manifesto, saying the PDP would take responsibility for the promises it makes to voters if elected.

“All parties should have a manifesto, and if you go by your manifesto, you shouldn’t shift the goalposts,” Bawa said.

“I believe what PDP is bringing on board, from the State Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and the governorship is that we are taking full responsibility for all our promises,” he added.