By Beatrice Gondyi
Governor Uba Sani has broken his silence on one of the most anticipated political decisions in Kaduna State, declaring that his choice of a Christian running mate for the 2027 election was a deliberate statement of inclusion and unity.
In a move that has reshaped the state’s political landscape, the Governor on Tuesday named Mr. Jerry Adams, a Christian from Southern Kaduna, as his deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 race, returning the state to the Muslim-Christian ticket formula that was abandoned in 2019.
Governor Sani, a Muslim from the northern part of the state, made the announcement in a personally signed statement, revealing that the decision followed wide consultations, deep reflection and earnest prayers.
But beyond the political calculations, the Governor insisted that the nomination of Adams is far more than a strategic electoral move.
“This decision is far greater than the selection of a deputy governorship candidate,” Sani said. “It is a reaffirmation of the values that have guided our administration since I took the oath of office on 29 May 2023; the values of inclusion, justice, fairness, equity and the unwavering conviction that every citizen of Kaduna State deserves a genuine sense of belonging.”
The Governor reflected on Kaduna’s complex history, acknowledging that the state has paid a heavy price for division, mistrust and exclusion. Yet he emphasised that when the people choose dialogue over discord and justice over prejudice, they achieve extraordinary things together.
He noted that for more than three years, his administration has deliberately ensured that the dividends of democracy reach every part of the state.
Across all 23 Local Government Areas, investments in roads, schools, hospitals, water supply, agriculture and social protection have been guided by one simple principle: no community should be left behind and no citizen should feel excluded.
Through collaboration with traditional rulers, religious leaders, community organisations, women and youth groups, the Governor said the foundations of peace have been strengthened. Farmers have returned to their lands, businesses have expanded and hope has steadily replaced fear in many communities.
“Our experience has affirmed a simple truth: lasting peace is built not only by security measures but by fairness, inclusion and equal opportunity,” he stated.
Governor Sani described Jerry Adams as an accomplished public servant, an outstanding tax administrator and an institution builder whose leadership has transformed the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service into one of Nigeria’s most respected revenue agencies.
He credited Adams with strengthening the state’s fiscal capacity through innovation, transparency and professionalism, enabling greater investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure and agriculture.
“Beyond his impressive professional accomplishments, Jerry Adams is a man of integrity, humility and quiet strength,” the Governor said. “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.”
Adams, who hails from Kaura Local Government Area and holds the traditional title of Jagaban Moro’a, brings decades of public and private sector experience to the ticket.
The nomination comes as the current Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, is constitutionally ineligible to seek a third consecutive term, having served since 2019.
Governor Sani, who secured the APC governorship ticket in May, urged the people of Kaduna to see the moment through a broader vision rather than through the narrow prism of religion, ethnicity or geography.
“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,” he said.
He painted a picture of 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 the common future.
“The work of building a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive Kaduna is not yet complete, but together we have laid a solid foundation. Together, we shall continue to strengthen that foundation and hand over to future generations a State that is more united, more secure, more just and more prosperous than we inherited,” Sani concluded.
“May God continue to bless the good people of Kaduna State, and may He guide us as we continue this noble journey of service.”
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