By Ayo Kehinde
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has announced the nomination of the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), Jerry Adams, as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.
The announcement made on Tuesday by the governor, marks a significant departure from the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s recent electoral strategy in Kaduna, ending seven years of Muslim-Muslim governorship tickets by returning to a Muslim-Christian pairing.
Announcing the nomination, Governor Sani said the decision followed “wide consultations, deep reflection, and earnest prayers.”
“After wide consultations, deep reflection, and earnest prayers, I am delighted to announce the nomination of Mr Jerry Adams, FCTI, FNIM, CNA, as my running mate in the 2027 Governorship Election,” the governor wrote in a statement on his personal Facebook page.
He added that the nomination represented another important milestone in Kaduna’s journey towards unity, peace, and sustainable development.
Governor Sani stressed that the nomination went beyond politics, describing it as a reaffirmation of the principles upon which his administration has been built since assuming office on May 29, 2023.
According to him, inclusion, justice, fairness, and equity remain the guiding ideals of his government, noting that every resident of Kaduna State should enjoy equal opportunities and feel represented regardless of religious affiliation or ethnic background.
“This decision is far greater than the selection of a deputy governorship candidate. 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,” he stated.
The governor maintained that leadership should be based on competence, integrity, and dedication to public service rather than sectional interests, saying his administration remains committed to building bridges across communities.
He further described the nomination as another step towards strengthening social cohesion and ensuring that governance reflects the diversity of Kaduna State.
Governor Sani said Adams distinguished himself through years of dedicated public service and exceptional leadership at KADIRS.
He described him as an accomplished public servant, institution builder, and respected tax administrator who has successfully modernised Kaduna’s tax administration through transparency, innovation, and institutional reforms.
According to the governor, Adams’ leadership has significantly strengthened the state’s internally generated revenue, giving the government greater fiscal capacity to finance development programmes.
“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,” Sani said.
The governor added that Adams possesses the character, experience, and competence required to support his administration’s vision of delivering inclusive governance and sustainable development across Kaduna State.
Adams, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (FCTI), Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM), and Certified National Accountant (CNA), is widely recognised within professional circles for his contributions to tax administration, institutional reforms, and public financial management.
Kaduna has remained one of Nigeria’s most politically significant states because of its religious diversity and strategic importance in national politics.
The APC fielded Muslim-Muslim governorship tickets in both the 2019 and 2023 elections, with former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Governor Uba Sani leading those tickets respectively.
While the party retained power, the arrangement generated considerable public debate over religious representation in the state’s leadership.
Since taking office in May 2023, Governor Sani has repeatedly pledged to pursue policies aimed at healing divisions, improving security, expanding economic opportunities, and promoting inclusive governance after years of communal tensions and insecurity.
The nomination of Jerry Adams is therefore being viewed not merely as an electoral decision but as a symbolic statement of the governor’s broader political philosophy, as Kaduna’s ruling party begins positioning itself for what is expected to be a fiercely contested 2027 governorship election.
