By Lizzy Chirkpi
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has named the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), Jerry Adams, as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election, saying the decision was informed by constitutional term limits, inclusiveness and equitable representation.
The announcement means the incumbent Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, will not return on the joint ticket after serving two consecutive terms in office.
Balarabe was first elected deputy governor in 2019 alongside former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and retained the position when Sani succeeded El-Rufai in 2023. By the expiration of the current administration in 2027, she would have completed two consecutive terms as deputy governor.
Governor Sani said the decision to nominate Adams followed extensive consultations and reflected his administration’s commitment to fairness, inclusion and competence.
“After extensive consultations, I have nominated Jerry Adams as my running mate for the 2027 governorship election. The decision reflects our commitment to inclusion, fairness and equitable representation,” the governor said.
Adams, an indigene of Southern Kaduna, has served as Executive Chairman of KADIRS since 2023.
Sani described him as an experienced public servant and tax administrator whose leadership had strengthened the state’s internally generated revenue and enhanced its fiscal capacity.
“This choice aligns with our administration’s commitment to merit, competence and ensuring broader representation across Kaduna State,” he added.
The governor said the nomination underscores his administration’s resolve to build an inclusive government that reflects the diversity of Kaduna State while rewarding competence and proven public service.
Adams’ emergence is also expected to bolster the administration’s political engagement in Southern Kaduna, a region regarded as an important bloc in the state’s electoral landscape.
His nomination brings to an end months of speculation over Governor Sani’s choice of running mate ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The governor maintained that Balarabe’s exclusion from the ticket was a consequence of constitutional term limits rather than any political disagreement, describing her tenure as one marked by dedicated service to the state.