Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani has picked a Christian as running mate, Jerry Adams for the forthcoming 2027 governorship elections, thereby foreclosing the era of muslim-muslim ticket which he inherited from his predecessor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in the State.

Besides, Adams who is the Chief Executive of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADRIS) and an indigene of Southern Kaduna will replace the incumbent Deputy Governor, Dr. Hauwa Hadiza Balarabe as the running mate to Senator Sani in 2027 general elections, under the All Progressive Congress (APC).

In a personal statement issued by Governor Sani on Tuesday, “today, we take another decisive step in our collective journey towards building a more united, peaceful and inclusive Kaduna State.”

According to him, “after wide consultations, deep reflection and earnest prayers, I am delighted to announce the nomination of Mr. Jerry Adams, as my running mate in the 2027 Governorship Election”, saying, “this decision is far greater than the selection of a deputy governorship candidate.”

Sani remarked , “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.”

“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”, the Governor added.

According to him, “for more than three years, our administration has worked tirelessly to heal old wounds and restore confidence in government. We have deliberately ensured that the dividends of democracy reach every part of our State. Across all 23 Local Government Areas, investments in roads, schools, hospitals, water supply, agriculture, rural development and social protection have been guided by one simple principle: no community should be left behind and no citizen should feel excluded.”

Besides, stressed, “together with our traditional rulers, religious leaders, community organisations, women and youth groups, we have strengthened the foundations of peace through dialogue, mutual respect and shared development. As security has improved, farmers have returned to their lands, businesses have expanded, investments have grown 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.”

Sani continued: “it is in furtherance of this vision that I have chosen Mr. Jerry Adams to join me on this journey.

Jerry Adams is 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. Through innovation, transparency and professionalism, he has helped strengthen our fiscal capacity, enabling government to invest even more in the education of our children, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture and other critical sectors that improve the lives of our people.”

He further argued, “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.”

“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”, Governor Sani added.

He further stressed, “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”.