By Abdullahi Sarki
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has officially unveiled the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), Jerry Adams, as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election, putting an end to months of intense speculation.
The governor made the announcement through a statement on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, framing the decision as a reaffirmation of his administration’s dedication to inclusion, equity, and fairness in governance.
Jerry Adams, a distinguished Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (FCTI), Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM), and a Chartered National Accountant (CNA), is set to replace the incumbent Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, who will not feature on the ticket for the upcoming election.
The selection signals a notable shift from the Muslim-Muslim governorship ticket previously adopted by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai during his 2019 re-election bid, a template that also influenced the choice of Sani and Balarabe as the APC’s ticket in 2023.
Governor Sani, in his announcement, emphasized that the choice of Adams transcends the mere selection of a deputy governorship candidate, hinting at a broader strategic vision for the state’s future.
The nomination of Adams, a tax expert with years of experience in public finance, is expected to bring technical expertise to the state’s leadership as Kaduna navigates its development agenda ahead of the 2027 polls.
As political realignments take shape, the governor’s decision has already sparked widespread reactions across the state, with supporters and analysts weighing the implications of the new ticket composition for the ruling APC and the opposition parties.
“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 said.
He said Kaduna’s ethnic and religious diversity should be seen as a strength rather than a source of division, adding that his administration had prioritised equitable development across the state’s 23 local government areas.
According to him, investments in roads, healthcare, education, agriculture, water supply, and social protection have been distributed without discrimination.
The governor also said his administration has worked with traditional rulers, religious leaders and community groups to improve security and strengthen peaceful coexistence.
Governor Sani described Mr Adams as an accomplished public servant and institution builder who transformed KADIRS into one of Nigeria’s leading state revenue agencies.
He credited the tax administrator with improving the state’s internally generated revenue through innovation, transparency and professionalism, saying the increased revenue had supported investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare and agriculture.
Beyond his professional achievements, the governor described Mr Adams as “a man of integrity, humility and quiet strength” whose leadership reflects merit, competence and commitment to inclusive governance.
Governor Sani’s announcement comes shortly after the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial candidate, Isah Ashiru, unveiled John Kantiyok as his running mate for the 2027 election, setting the stage for what is expected to be a closely watched contest in Kaduna.
With both major contenders now unveiling their deputy governorship candidates, political attention is expected to shift to campaigns, policy debates, and the parties’ electoral strategies ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
