•Southern Kaduna interest groups insist gov must pick Christian deputy

From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

Aspolitical activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gradually gather momentum, Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, is increasingly coming under pressure from interest groups and political stakeholders over the choice of his running mate for a possible second-term bid.

With the tenure of the incumbent Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, expected to end in May 2027, consultations over her successor have triggered intense political lobbying, particularly in Southern Kaduna, where ethnic, religious and political interests are converging around the deputy governorship ticket.

Across the Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, several groups have begun promoting prominent personalities from different ethnic nationalities, arguing that the choice of deputy governor should reflect competence, inclusiveness and the region’s political relevance.

Among the contenders attracting support are Hon. Jerry Adams, Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), who is from the Moroa ethnic group; Mr. Anthony Hassan, popularly known as Dokaje, from the Jaba ethnic group; and the Kaduna State Head of Service, Mrs. Jummai Bako, from Kachia Local Government Area of Southern Kaduna.

Political observers note that the governor faces a delicate balancing act as various communities seek greater representation in the next administration.

Supporters of Jerry Adams cite his record in public administration and revenue reforms, describing him as an experienced technocrat whose work at KADIRS aligns with Governor Sani’s economic and governance agenda.

They argue that his background in financial management, institutional reforms and grassroots engagement makes him a credible option for the office of deputy governor.

Similarly, advocates of Anthony Hassan, also known as Dokaje, point to his extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. They describe him as an accountant, banker, businessman and retired civil servant whose contributions to community development, education and youth empowerment have earned him recognition across Southern Kaduna.

His supporters further argue that his leadership philosophy mirrors Governor Sani’s emphasis on inclusive governance, economic development and social cohesion, insisting that such a partnership would help consolidate ongoing reforms in the state.

In another development, a former Kaduna State House of Assembly aspirant for Kachia Constituency, Livinus Tony Mbaka, has openly appealed to Governor Sani to consider the Head of Service, Mrs. Jummai Bako, for the position.

In an open letter, Mbaka described Bako as a seasoned administrator with integrity, extensive institutional knowledge and a strong record in coordinating government policies across ministries, departments and agencies.

He maintained that appointing a career civil servant as deputy governor would strengthen governance, improve service delivery and boost confidence within the state’s civil service.

Beyond the Southern Kaduna contest, political calculations are also shaped by Kaduna’s religious diversity.

While some stakeholders in the predominantly Muslim Northern Kaduna Senatorial District are said to favour the retention of a Muslim-Muslim ticket, others believe the governor should nominate a Christian running mate from Southern Kaduna to reinforce his administration’s commitment to inclusiveness and equitable representation.

A political analyst said whichever option Governor Sani eventually adopts will carry significant political implications, particularly in a state historically shaped by ethnic and religious considerations.

Since assuming office in 2023, Governor Sani has consistently projected his administration as one focused on reconciliation, inclusion and equitable development, seeking to bridge longstanding divisions across Kaduna State.

Observers believe that philosophy will weigh heavily on his eventual choice of a running mate as he seeks to consolidate the achievements of his administration.

Despite the growing speculation and endorsements from various interest groups, Governor Sani has yet to make any public pronouncement on his preferred deputy governorship candidate.

For now, consultations among party leaders, political stakeholders and community groups are expected to continue, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) likely to intensify internal discussions as preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace.

Until an official decision is announced, the contest for the deputy governorship ticket remains open, with competing interests from Southern Kaduna continuing to mount pressure on the governor in what is shaping up to be one of the state’s earliest and most closely watched political calculations ahead of 2027.

Meanwhile, some religious clerics have reacted to the issue of Muslim-Muslim ticket for the Kaduna State governorship election, comes 2027.

A Kaduna based Pastor, Rev. Emmanuel Olorunmagba said, “as fate will have it for Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, his deputy will complete her two tenures by May 2027. She did one term with former Governor El-Rufai and has done the second term with Uba Sani. Hence, she will no longer be able to contest as Deputy Governor based on the law.

“Therefore, the situation has created an opportunity for Senator Uba Sani of Kaduna State to prove that he is truly ready to undo the errors of his predecessor. And one of these major errors that needed to be corrected is this Muslim-Muslim ticket. Hence, we hope that Governor Uba Sani will do the needful by getting a Christian from Southern Kaduna as his next running mate”.

In his own reaction, the Secretary of the Kaduna State chapter of Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN), Alhaji AbdurRahman Hassan, said: “First of all, democracy is a game of numbers. This is what is at play in Kaduna State. When former Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai went for the Muslim-Muslim ticket, most of our Christian brothers in the state, more especially in Southern Kaduna did not vote for him. Yet he won without their votes.

“The stand of our council, Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) Kaduna State Chapter), is: we will never go for anything contrary. After all, the population of Muslims in Plateau State is by far greater than the Christian population in Kaduna State, yet there wasn’t any Muslim Deputy Governor in Plateau State right from the beginning of the Second Republic.

“No one is crying foul, why should there be any complaint in Kaduna State if Muslim-Muslim ticket is maintained? So, the politicians have the right to make their choices, but they shouldn’t forget that the electorate also have their rights.”

Interestingly, political observers have noted that Governor Uba Sani appear to have a soft spot for a Christian Deputy Governor, come 2027.

This, according to one of the political observers who pleaded anonymity is the fact that the governor will like to have a Christian deputy governor to penetrate the Christian community better as part of the state’s efforts to achieve peaceful coexistence between the two major religions.

“You can see Governor Uba Sani’s actions and body language towards Christians in the state is friendly. He is very close to them physically and spiritually. He personally attended Christmas carol on two occasions in the state. This is what his deputy should have done if she is a Christian so that the governor himself could attend to other state issues.

“Governor Uba Sani has been advising well-meaning residents of Kaduna State to checkmate the antics of ethnic and religious bigots, by living in peace, love and unity for overall progress and development of the state,” the source said.

During the 2023 and 2024 Christmas festivities, Governor Uba Sani had attended the Christmas Carol of Six Lessons organised by the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at ECWA Good News, Narayi High Cost area of Kaduna city.

This style of leadership, according to political observers, had never happened with a Muslim governor in the history of Kaduna State, except by delegating their Christian deputy governors to represent them at such occasions.

Governor Sani who noted that there could be no development without peace and harmony, expressed happiness that everyone now lives freely without intimidation because of their tribal or religious affiliations in Kaduna State.

According to the governor, he attended the Christmas Carol to celebrate with Christians because when he took the oath of office, he promised to treat everyone equally, irrespective of their religious, tribal, or political affiliations.

He expressed happiness that both Jama’atuI Nasril Islam (JNI) and CAN have been working together as one family to maintain peace in Kaduna State, which he described as an important achievement.

Governor Sani had commended the Secretary of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) who attended the Christmas Carol with him, adding that “I can tell you that some people are not happy, but the fact remains that we took an oath, and those who are not happy may be the minority. The most important thing is that the majority are happy because we are working towards the development and progress of our state; for me, that is the key.”