Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani has officially nominated Mr. Jerry Adams, the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election, a decision the governor described as a reaffirmation of his administration's commitment to inclusive governance, justice, and equity. The announcement, made on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, through a statement posted on the governor's official X account and widely reported by national media, ends weeks of speculation and pressure over the choice of a deputy governorship candidate for the upcoming election.
Governor Sani, who secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket on May 21, 2026, with an overwhelming 459,393 affirmation votes, said the decision followed "wide consultations, deep reflection and earnest prayers". He stressed that the nomination was far more than the selection of a deputy governorship candidate but a reaffirmation of the values that have guided his administration since he took the oath of office on May 29, 2023—values of inclusion, justice, fairness, equity, and the conviction that every citizen of Kaduna State deserves a genuine sense of belonging.
Describing Kaduna as a state blessed with extraordinary diversity of faiths, ethnicities, and cultures, Governor Sani said that diversity is not a burden but the state's greatest strength. He noted that his administration has worked deliberately over the past three years to heal old wounds, restore public confidence in government, and ensure that the dividends of democracy reach every part of the state. Investments in roads, schools, hospitals, water supply, agriculture, rural development, and social protection have been spread across all 23 local government areas, guided by the principle that no community should be left behind and no citizen should feel excluded.
The governor highlighted his administration's collaboration with traditional rulers, religious leaders, community organisations, women, and youth groups to strengthen peace through dialogue, mutual respect, and shared development. He said improved security had enabled farmers to return to their farmlands, businesses to expand, investments to grow, and hope to gradually replace fear in many communities. According to him, the experience of his administration has shown that sustainable peace requires more than security measures—it also demands fairness, inclusion, and equal opportunities for all citizens.
Explaining his choice of running mate, Governor Sani described Jerry Adams as an accomplished public servant, an outstanding tax administrator, and an institution builder whose leadership has transformed KADIRS into one of Nigeria's most respected revenue agencies. Through innovation, transparency, and professionalism, Adams has helped strengthen the state's fiscal capacity, enabling the government to invest even more in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and other critical sectors that improve the lives of the people.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, the governor described Adams as a man of integrity, humility, and quiet strength who has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to peace, reconciliation, and inclusive governance. Sani said Adams' emergence reflects his administration's determination to build a Kaduna where merit, competence, and character remain the true qualifications for leadership.
Jerry Adams, who holds the professional designations FCTI (Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria), FNIM (Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management), and CNA (Certified National Accountant), has led KADIRS since his appointment as Executive Chairman in November 2023 by Governor Uba Sani. He had previously served as Executive Director of Corporate Services at KADIRS from 2020. A tax expert with over three decades of professional experience spanning both public and private sectors, Adams began his public service career in 1995 at the Nigerian Institute of Trypanosomiasis Research and worked for over 20 years in the private sector, including with the Nigerian Bottling Company (Coca-Cola).
Adams hails from Kaura Local Government Area in Southern Kaduna, Bondon District of the Moro'a Chiefdom, and holds the traditional title of Jagaban Moro'a. His selection from Southern Kaduna signals a return to a Muslim-Christian governorship ticket, moving away from the Muslim-Muslim ticket that characterised the previous administration under Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The decision has been widely praised by political stakeholders, including Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, a prominent APC chieftain and former commissioner in Niger State, who commended Governor Sani for demonstrating respect for Kaduna's Christian community and promoting peaceful coexistence and religious harmony.
Under Adams' leadership, KADIRS has achieved remarkable revenue growth. In an interview with BusinessDay published on July 19, 2026, Adams disclosed that the state generated N62 billion in 2023, N71 billion in 2024, and N86 billion in 2025, with projections of reaching N120 billion by the end of 2026. He attributed the growth to the political will of Governor Sani, improved taxpayer trust, and the elimination of illegal revenue collectors. He also noted that the state's monthly IGR target is now N20 billion, a goal he described as "ambitious" but "doable".
The announcement of Adams' nomination comes just hours after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Hon. Usman Shehu Bawa, unveiled Hon. Amos A. Gandu as his running mate. Other parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), have also announced their candidates, setting the stage for a fiercely contested election in 2027.
Looking ahead to the 2027 election, Governor Sani appealed to the people of Kaduna State to view the nomination beyond religious, ethnic, or geographical considerations. He urged citizens to embrace a broader vision of a Kaduna where children can pursue their dreams without fear, communities can prosper, all faiths are respected, and every citizen has an equal stake in the future of the state. The governor expressed confidence that his administration has laid a solid foundation for a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous Kaduna, pledging to consolidate on its achievements and continue pursuing policies that promote unity, fairness, and sustainable development.
The work of building a peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive Kaduna is not yet complete, the governor acknowledged, but he expressed optimism that together, his administration would hand over to future generations a state that is more united, more secure, more just, and more prosperous than it inherited. As the 2027 election approaches, the choice of Jerry Adams as running mate represents a strategic move aimed at consolidating the APC's support across religious and regional lines, while also leveraging Adams' reputation as a competent administrator and institution builder to strengthen the party's message of inclusive governance and economic development.
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