Kaduna 2027: Uba Sani restores Muslim-Christian ticket with Jerry Adams

Kaduna 2027: Uba Sani restores Muslim-Christian ticket with Jerry Adams

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has officially named the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), Jerry Adams, as his running mate for the 2027 Kaduna governorship election, a move that reshapes the political landscape ahead of the state’s next electoral contest.

The announcement confirms that the incumbent Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, will not be part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket for the 2027 election.

Governor Sani said Adams emerged after extensive consultations with party leaders, traditional rulers, community stakeholders, religious leaders and other interest groups across Kaduna State.

According to the governor, the decision reflects his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance, fairness, merit and balanced representation across the state’s diverse religious and ethnic communities.

He described Adams as a capable administrator with a strong track record in public finance, tax administration and institutional reforms, expressing confidence that his experience would help accelerate the state’s development agenda if the APC secures another term in office.

The choice of Adams, a native of Southern Kaduna, also signals the return of a Muslim-Christian governorship ticket in Kaduna after the state operated a Muslim-Muslim ticket during the 2019 and 2023 election cycles. Political analysts say the decision is likely to strengthen the APC’s appeal across the state and reinforce its message of unity and inclusion ahead of the 2027 polls.

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Adams was appointed Executive Chairman of KADIRS in 2023, where he has led several reforms aimed at modernising tax administration, improving revenue collection and expanding Kaduna State’s internally generated revenue.

Under his leadership, the agency has introduced technology-driven tax solutions, widened the tax net and improved voluntary compliance, measures that state officials say have strengthened public revenue without imposing unnecessary burdens on taxpayers.

Governor Sani said the nomination demonstrates his administration’s resolve to reward competence and ensure every region of Kaduna State has a sense of belonging in government.

The announcement also marks the end of Dr. Hadiza Balarabe’s tenure as deputy governor. Balarabe first assumed office in 2019 under former Governor Nasir El-Rufai before retaining the position when Uba Sani succeeded him in 2023. Having completed two consecutive terms, she is constitutionally ineligible to continue in the office after 2027.

Political observers believe Adams’ emergence could further consolidate the APC’s support in Southern Kaduna, a region regarded as a major political bloc whose voting pattern often influences the outcome of statewide elections.

The governor’s choice has also generated widespread reactions among political stakeholders, with supporters describing it as a deliberate effort to deepen inclusion and strengthen confidence among the state’s diverse communities.

Earlier in July, Adams publicly endorsed Governor Sani’s re-election ambition during a meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Kaduna.

Speaking at the event, he praised the governor’s leadership style, describing the administration as people-centred and inclusive.

“Uba Sani’s government is a government with a human face. That is why we want him back in 2027,” Adams said.

He also credited Governor Sani with improving peaceful coexistence among the state’s religious and ethnic groups.

“Governor Sani is doing well. He has done a lot in terms of peacebuilding and inclusivity. People are no longer talking about segregation in religion. What people are asking for is fairness, and that is what is happening now.”

Adams further commended the governor’s relationship with communities in Southern Kaduna and his respect for traditional institutions.

“We have seen the governor in different Christian fora as a Muslim. Especially those of us from Southern Kaduna have seen him respect our traditional rulers.”

At the time, Adams dismissed speculation linking him to other political ambitions and reaffirmed his loyalty to Governor Sani.

“I am 100 per cent loyal to the governor. He is my boss and our leader, and anything that will make him succeed is what we will do.”

His emergence as the APC’s deputy governorship candidate is now widely seen as the culmination of the close working relationship the two men have built since the current administration came into office.

With the selection of Jerry Adams, Governor Uba Sani has effectively unveiled the political direction of the APC ahead of the 2027 Kaduna governorship election, positioning the party to campaign on continuity, economic reforms, peacebuilding, inclusive governance and equitable representation.

Kaduna 2027: Uba Sani restores Muslim-Christian ticket with Jerry Adams