Quick Facts
Biography
Dr. Danladi Abdullahi Sankara is a Nigerian politician who is Senator for the Jigawa North-West constituency of Jigawa State, Nigeria. Danladi is a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
Early political career
In November 2001 Danladi was the National Ex Officio member of the PDP and Chairman of the Elders Committee of the Party in Jigawa State. Sankara was a contender for the 2003 Senatorial seat on the PDP platform, but was defeated by Dalha Danzomo of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) -- who was supported by the Jigawa State Governor, then ANPP member Alhaji Saminu Turaki.
Turaki changed his party affiliation and won the next election as Senator for Jigawa North-West on the PDP ticket.
Sankara was elected as PDP vice-chairman in charge of the Northwest on 4 March 2008; he resigned on 24 December 2010 in order to compete in the Senatorial election for Jigawa Northwest.
Senate election
The PDP promoted Danladi's candidacy to represent the party over incumbent Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, who defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). After winning the primaries, Sankara received 195,412 votes in the general election, defeating Turaki (148,595 votes), Muhammad D. Alkali of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) (42,237 votes), and Muhammad Nasiru Kiri of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) (20,744 votes).
Turaki filed a complaint that the votes had been tampered with in two of the twelve local government areas, threatening to challenge the result in court. Turaki's appeal would be dismissed, citing that his case "lacked merit".