Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has reportedly resolved to run on a faith-balanced ticket ahead of the 2027 governorship election, choosing a Christian running mate from the Southern Kaduna senatorial zone. The decision marks a deliberate departure from the approach taken by his predecessor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, who in 2019 broke the longstanding convention of pairing candidates from different faiths by selecting a Muslim deputy.
Faith Balance Over Other Considerations
A highly placed source within Government House confirmed that the governor has moved past internal deliberations. “The governor has gone past that stage; he has decided that, for fairness, his ticket would be balanced in terms of faith,” the source said. The source added that zonal representation and religious balance will take priority over other considerations such as age and gender. The announcement is expected before the Independent National Electoral Commission’s submission deadline.
Why Sani Is Breaking from El-Rufai's Template
El-Rufai ran with Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, a Muslim, for his second term in 2019, abandoning the previous practice of a Muslim-Christian pairing. Balarabe later served as Sani’s deputy but is constitutionally barred from taking the oath of office a third time, forcing the governor to seek a new running mate. Sani’s choice to return to a faith-balanced ticket signals a strategic shift in Kaduna’s political landscape.
Shortlisted Names and Stakes
Among those under consideration are Commissioner for Justice James Kanyip, Head of Service Mrs. Jummai Bako, and Jerry Adams, the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service. The governor has kept his final choice closely guarded to prevent lobbying and internal pressure. “Once the time is ripe, he would make the announcement,” the source said.
The political calculation is significant. The opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Malam Isa Ashiru Kudan, has already named Irmiya Kantyok, a Christian from Southern Kaduna, as his running mate—a pairing that has historically earned him strong support in the area. Analysts warn that if Sani proceeds with a faith-balanced ticket, it could squeeze the APC’s margins in Southern Kaduna.
Analysts and Clerics Weigh In
Public affairs analyst Haruna Nasarawa said a Muslim-Muslim ticket would reopen wounds from Kaduna’s history of religious and ethnic tension, while a Christian running mate “would send a strong message of unity.” Islamic cleric Sheikh Haliru Maraya echoed the position, arguing that parties in religiously diverse states should always field candidates of different faiths. “Since 1999, Kaduna State has always produced candidates with different religious beliefs. That display of justice has gone a long way to ensure togetherness and a sense of belonging in the state,” Maraya said.
Official Silence
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Ibraheem Musa, declined to comment on the reports, saying the matter would become public in due course.
Broader Context: Muslim-Muslim and Christian-Christian Tickets
The debate over faith-balanced tickets extends beyond Kaduna. Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2027 election, advising Nigerians to focus on competency and ethnic balance rather than religious balance. Meanwhile, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule argued that Nigeria’s Constitution does not require religious balancing on presidential tickets, but expressed hope that a Christian-Christian presidential ticket will one day win a national election. Sule explained why he has consistently chosen a Christian deputy despite his constitutional interpretation.
