Sani Picks Jerry Adams As Running Mate, Restores Faith Balance In Kaduna Ticket

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has announced Jerry Adams as his running mate for the 2027 polls, saying the choice is driven by equity, unity and broader representation for all communities.

In a statement released on Monday, Sani said Adams, a Christian, earned the nomination based on performance and not on faith or background. The governor described him as a tested administrator and one of Kaduna’s most effective revenue chiefs, credited with turning the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service into a benchmark institution.

According to the governor, Adams brought fresh ideas, accountability and professionalism to KADIRS. The reforms, he said, significantly boosted the state’s internally generated revenue and gave government room to fund schools, hospitals, roads, farming and other basic services.

Beyond his record in public finance, Sani praised Adams for his character. He described him as a modest and principled leader who has worked steadily to promote peace and bridge divides in a state known for its religious and ethnic complexity.

“Kaduna’s strength lies in the mix of our faiths, tribes and traditions. That mix is an advantage, not a setback,” Sani stated. “We have paid dearly for exclusion and mistrust in the past. We have also seen progress when we choose fairness, dialogue and togetherness.”

The governor noted that his government has spent the past three years working to mend divisions and rebuild trust between citizens and the state. He called on Kaduna residents to judge Adams on competence rather than on religion, ethnicity or origin.

The announcement departs from the political arrangement adopted in 2019. At the time, former Governor Nasir el-Rufai set aside Kaduna’s tradition of pairing a Muslim with a Christian by selecting Hadiza Balarabe, also a Muslim, as deputy. The decision attracted criticism from Christian leaders and raised concerns in a state with a history of communal tensions. El-Rufai later called it the boldest decision of his tenure.

With Adams on the ticket, Sani is returning to the long-held practice of balancing the governorship seat across religious lines.

The governor said the move reflects his belief that Kaduna’s diversity should serve as a force for cohesion, not division.

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