Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, is set to return the state to a Muslim-Christian governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election
Information made available indicates that he will choose a Christian from Southern Kaduna as his running mate.
The move is expected to end the Muslim-Muslim arrangement that has been in place since 2019 and restore the religious balancing formula in the state.
Sources familiar with ongoing consultations said the governor has concluded plans to pick a deputy governorship candidate from Southern Kaduna before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline for the submission of candidates and their running mates.
The development comes as Deputy Governor Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe is constitutionally unable to continue in the position beyond the current administration, having already served in the office since 2019.
Multiple sources within government circles disclosed that Governor Sani weighed several factors before reaching his decision. Among the issues reportedly considered were zoning, age, gender, political experience and religion.
However, the governor was said to have eventually settled for a Muslim-Christian ticket in a bid to promote inclusiveness and preserve the state’s delicate religious balance.
A source at the Kaduna State Government House said the governor believes the deputy governorship position should remain in Southern Kaduna while also ensuring religious diversity on the ticket.
“The governor has carefully looked at different options. He believes fairness and inclusiveness are important. After considering all the factors, he has resolved that religious balance and senatorial representation should take priority,” the source said.
According to the source, consultations have reached an advanced stage, but the governor has deliberately kept his preferred choice away from public attention to prevent intense lobbying and political pressure.
“The process is ongoing quietly. He does not want unnecessary distractions before the official announcement is made,” the source added.
Several prominent figures from Southern Kaduna are reportedly being considered for the position.
Among those whose names have surfaced in political discussions are the Kaduna State Commissioner for Justice, James Kanyip; the Head of Service, Jummai Bako; and the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service, Jerry Adams.
None of the individuals has publicly commented on the speculation.
When contacted on the matter, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ibraheem Musa, declined to confirm or deny the reports.
He maintained that the governor would make his decision known at the appropriate time.
“The public will be informed whenever a formal decision is taken,” he said.
The reported decision has generated considerable interest across Kaduna State, particularly in Southern Kaduna where political leaders and community stakeholders have consistently argued that the deputy governorship slot should remain in the zone.
That tradition was broken in 2019 when former Governor Nasir El-Rufai selected Hadiza Balarabe, also a Muslim, as his running mate.
The arrangement was retained in 2023 when Uba Sani emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and again chose Balarabe as his deputy governorship candidate.
At the time, Sani defended his choice and praised the deputy governor’s record in office.
“I am happy to announce that I have picked Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe as my running mate in the 2023 governorship election in Kaduna State,” he said.
He added that Balarabe had “demonstrated hard work, punctuality, dedication and team spirit in the discharge of her responsibility as Deputy Governor.”
Recall in the buildup to the 2023 election, Governor Uba Sani faced intense pressure from various political and religious groups over the choice of his running mate after he retained Hadiza Balarabe on the APC ticket.
At the time, the governor insisted that competence, experience and continuity were key considerations behind his decision.
Announcing Balarabe as his running mate, Sani said she had contributed significantly to the achievements recorded by the previous administration in infrastructure and human capital development.
He also urged residents to support the ticket, stating that the team was committed to building “a peaceful, prosperous and greater Kaduna State.”
Consequently, the choice met reactions in Southern Kaduna as several groups argued that a Christian candidate should have been selected to reflect the state’s religious diversity.
