BREAKING: Gov Uba Sani Dumps Predecessor El-Rufai’s Formula, Dumps Muslim-Muslim Ticket For Christian Running Mate
Kaduna State’s Governor Uba Sani has announced a Christian, Jerry Adams, as his Running Mate for the 2027 governorship election.
The Governor’s decision breaks from the path toed by his predecessor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, who broke the well-laid political tradition that balanced religion in the top two positions in the state.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate for the 2027 election, said the decision to choose a Christian as his Running Mate was a strategic step towards consolidating peace, inclusive governance and sustainable development across the state.
The Governor announced the nomination in a statement today Tuesday, saying the decision followed wide consultations, deep reflection and prayers.
Sani explained that the selection of Adams was not merely about filling the position of Deputy Governorship Candidate but a reaffirmation of the principles of inclusion, justice, fairness and equity that guided his administration since assuming office on May 29, 2023.
He explained that Adams’ nomination underscored the administration’s determination to ensure that every resident of Kaduna State had a genuine sense of belonging irrespective of religion, ethnicity or geographical location.
From 1999, all the governors of the state ran a faith-balanced ticket, alongside persons of different religion from theirs until 2019 when El-Rufai, while running for a second term, decided to do away with that arrangement and paired up with the current Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe.
In 1999, Governor Ahmed Makarfi paired with Stephen Shekari as his deputy.
When Shekari died before the end of the tenure, Makarfi chose Patrick Yakowa, another Christian, to fill the vacant position.
Namadi Sambo in 2007 continued with Yakowa as his deputy.
Upon the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, Sambo was nominated as Vice President to President Goodluck Jonathan.
Yakowa moved up the ladder to become Governor and picked Ramalan Yero, a Muslim as his deputy.
Yakowa died in office and Yero who assumed position as Governor picked Audu Nuhu Bajoga, Christian, as deputy.
El-Rufai in 2015 ran with Barnabas Yusuf Bala popularly known as Bantex but on the completion of their first tenure, had a change of mind in 2019, allowing the latter to run for a Senate seat while he shopped for another deputy and zeroed in on Hadiza.
Following the intrigues that trailed the succession plan of El-Rufai, Hadiza, who initially was a strong hopeful for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was placated with the Running Mate position again to run with Senator Uba Sani.
As Uba Sani is set to run for a second term, Dr Balarabe is hampered by constitutional provisions to take the oath of the office thrice hence the search for another Running Mate.
The Governor said Kaduna’s rich diversity remained one of its greatest strengths and stressed that his administration had consistently pursued policies aimed at fostering unity among the state’s diverse communities.
“Kaduna is a remarkable state, blessed with extraordinary diversity of faiths, ethnicities and cultures. That diversity is not a burden; it is our greatest strength. Our history has taught us difficult lessons about the heavy cost of division, mistrust and exclusion. Yet it has also shown us that when we choose dialogue over discord, inclusion over alienation, and justice over prejudice, our people achieve extraordinary things together,” he said.
He stated that his administration worked over the past three years to heal old divisions, restore public confidence in government and ensure that development projects reached every part of the state.
He explained that investments in roads, schools, healthcare, water supply, agriculture, rural development and social intervention programmes had been deliberately spread across the 23 local government areas without discrimination.
According to him, the guiding principle had been that no community should be left behind and no citizen should feel excluded from the dividends of democracy.
The Governor also highlighted the administration’s efforts in strengthening peace and security through collaboration with traditional rulers, religious leaders, community organisations, women and youth groups.
He said the partnership had contributed to improved security in many parts of Kaduna State, enabling farmers to return to their farmlands, businesses to expand and investments to grow.
Sani maintained that experience had shown that enduring peace could not be achieved through security operations alone but also through fairness, inclusion and equal opportunities for all citizens.
Speaking on his Running Mate choice, the Governor described Jerry Adams as an accomplished public servant, renowned tax administrator and institution builder with a track record of excellence in public service.
He noted that Adams had transformed the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service into one of Nigeria’s leading revenue agencies through innovation, transparency and professionalism.
According to the Governor, the improved revenue generation under Adams’ leadership had strengthened the state’s fiscal capacity and enabled the government to increase investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture and other critical sectors.
Sani further described Adams as a man of integrity, humility and quiet strength who consistently demonstrated commitment to peace, reconciliation and inclusive governance.
He said the nomination reflected the administration’s belief that competence, character and merit should remain the defining criteria for leadership in Kaduna State.
The Governor also called on residents to embrace the vision of a united Kaduna rather than allowing religion, ethnicity or regional differences to shape political choices.
“As we look towards 2027, I invite every son and daughter of Kaduna State to see this moment not through the narrow prism of religion, ethnicity or geography, but through the broader vision of the Kaduna we are building together; a Kaduna where every child can dream without fear, every community can flourish, every faith is respected and every citizen has an equal stake in our common future,” he said.
He appealed to citizens to see the nomination of Adams as part of a broader commitment to building a state where every child could aspire without fear, every community has opportunities to prosper and every faith is respected.
Sani said: “Beyond his impressive professional accomplishments, Jerry Adams is a man of integrity, humility and quiet strength. He has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to peace, reconciliation and inclusive governance, believing, as I do, that Kaduna’s diversity must always unite us rather than divide us.
“His emergence reflects our continuing determination to build a Kaduna where merit, competence and character remain the true qualifications for leadership.”
