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By Samson Ishaya
Politics in Kaduna State has always been more than electoral contests. It has often reflected the delicate balancing act required to manage one of Nigeria’s most diverse states, where religion and ethnicity have historically shaped political discourse and, at times, threatened peaceful coexistence. Every major political decision in Kaduna is therefore interpreted not only through the lens of governance but also through its implications for social harmony.
It is against this backdrop that Governor Uba Sani’s choice of Mr. Jerry Adams, a respected Christian technocrat and Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election deserves commendation. Beyond the immediate political calculations, the decision represents a deliberate reaffirmation of inclusion, equity and the politics of unity.
The significance of the decision becomes even clearer when viewed against Kaduna’s recent political history. In 2019 and subsequently in 2023, the All Progressives Congress (APC) fielded Muslim-Muslim governorship tickets, a development that generated intense public debate. While supporters argued that competence rather than religion should determine leadership selection, critics maintained that political representation in a religiously diverse state like Kaduna required greater sensitivity.
Governor Uba Sani has now charted a different course. By selecting Jerry Adams, he has effectively restored the Muslim-Christian governorship ticket in Kaduna State. More importantly, he has sent a powerful message that every segment of Kaduna society belongs in the governance process.
That decision reflects political maturity rather than political expediency. The governor himself captured the essence of the decision when he described it as “a reaffirmation of the values that have guided our administration since I took the oath of office… the values of inclusion, justice, fairness, equity and the unwavering conviction that every citizen of Kaduna State deserves a genuine sense of belonging.”
Those are not empty words. Indeed, they accurately describe the governing philosophy that has gradually transformed Kaduna over the past three years.
Since assuming office in May 2023, Governor Uba Sani has consistently avoided divisive rhetoric. Instead of governing through identity politics, he has concentrated on rebuilding confidence among communities that had become deeply polarised over several years.
His administration inherited a state battling multiple security challenges, communal distrust, farmer-herder conflicts, banditry, economic hardship and widespread suspicion among religious communities.
Many feared that Kaduna’s fragile social fabric could deteriorate further. Instead, something remarkable has happened. Through deliberate engagement with traditional rulers, religious leaders, community organisations and security agencies, Kaduna has witnessed a gradual restoration of confidence among previously divided communities.
Perhaps one of Governor Uba Sani’s greatest achievements has been replacing confrontation with dialogue. Unlike the politics of exclusion that often defined previous years, his administration has embraced consultation, consensus-building and stakeholder engagement.
This non-kinetic approach has complemented ongoing security operations, particularly in vulnerable areas such as Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Chikun, Kajuru and parts of Southern Kaduna.
The result has been measurable improvements in security across several local government areas. Communities that were once deserted are witnessing gradual returns of displaced families.
Farmers who previously abandoned farmlands are returning to agricultural production. Markets that once operated under fear are slowly regaining commercial activities.
While security challenges certainly remain, the atmosphere across Kaduna today is significantly calmer than what existed before 2023. Equally noteworthy is the governor’s commitment to equitable development.
One of the recurring criticisms of previous administrations in Kaduna was the perception of uneven distribution of infrastructure and public investment. Governor Uba Sani has consciously sought to change that narrative.
Road construction projects now cut across the state’s three senatorial districts. Healthcare facilities are being expanded without regard to religious or ethnic considerations.
Schools are receiving attention across all local government areas. Agricultural interventions have reached both northern and southern parts of the state. Water projects, social protection programmes and rural infrastructure have similarly reflected geographical balance.
Such equitable distribution of public resources reinforces public confidence far more effectively than political speeches. People judge governments largely by what they experience.
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When communities see roads, hospitals, schools and water projects arriving without discrimination, perceptions gradually change. This explains why Governor Uba Sani’s administration increasingly enjoys acceptance across diverse constituencies.
His recent commissioning of township roads in Kwoi, headquarters of Jaba Local Government Area, perfectly illustrates this philosophy. For over twenty years, Jaba had witnessed virtually no completed road projects.
Governor Uba Sani not only acknowledged this historical imbalance but corrected it through the construction of strategic township roads and the rehabilitation of the important Kwoi-Gora Road.
In doing so, he demonstrated that development should never be determined by politics, geography or identity. That same philosophy now reflects in his choice of running mate.
Jerry Adams is not merely a Christian politician selected to satisfy religious arithmetic. He is a highly accomplished administrator whose performance at KADIRS has earned national recognition.
Under his leadership, Kaduna significantly improved internally generated revenue through technology, transparency and institutional reforms. That additional revenue has helped finance many of the development projects currently transforming the state.
Competence and inclusion therefore intersect beautifully in his nomination. This is precisely how modern democratic societies should approach leadership selection. Identity matters. Merit matters.
Governor Uba Sani has demonstrated that both can coexist. His decision also strengthens Kaduna’s broader democratic culture. Nigeria’s constitutional democracy thrives best when all groups feel represented within governing institutions.
Inclusive governance reduces feelings of marginalisation. It promotes trust in public institutions. It encourages cooperation between government and citizens. Most importantly, it strengthens national unity. Kaduna occupies a unique position within Nigeria. Its diversity mirrors the country’s broader diversity.
Policies that succeed in Kaduna often offer valuable lessons for national integration. The governor’s inclusive leadership model therefore extends beyond state politics. It offers a template for managing diversity through fairness rather than domination.
Of course, political opponents will attempt to interpret the running mate selection through electoral calculations. That is inevitable. Politics naturally involves strategy.
However, even critics would find it difficult to dismiss the symbolic importance of restoring religious balance within the APC governorship ticket. Symbols matter in politics. They shape perceptions.
They influence public confidence. They reinforce values. For Kaduna, where religion has historically influenced political discourse, this symbol carries considerable significance. Ultimately, leadership is measured not only by projects commissioned but by societies transformed.
Roads eventually require rehabilitation. Buildings grow old. Budgets expire. But restoring trust among divided communities leaves a legacy that outlives physical infrastructure. Governor Uba Sani appears to understand this profound reality.
His administration has consistently demonstrated that sustainable development rests upon peace, inclusion and social cohesion. Without harmony, economic development remains fragile. Without trust, governance becomes difficult. Without inclusion, democracy loses legitimacy.
The nomination of Jerry Adams therefore represents far more than electoral positioning for 2027. It reflects an administration determined to consolidate the politics of fairness, deepen religious harmony and strengthen Kaduna’s social stability.
In many respects, it completes a broader governance philosophy that has defined Governor Uba Sani’s tenure since 2023. At a time when many political leaders exploit identity for electoral advantage, Kaduna’s governor has chosen reconciliation over division, inclusion over exclusion and unity over polarisation.
That may ultimately become one of the most enduring legacies of his administration, not just the roads he has built or the infrastructure he has delivered, but the bridges of trust he has constructed across the religious and ethnic divides that once threatened the soul of Kaduna State
• Ishaya, writes from Kafanchan.
