Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, is reportedly considering a return to a Muslim-Christian governorship ticket ahead of the next election, with indications that he may pick a Christian from the Southern Kaduna Senatorial District as his running mate.
The reported move comes as the deadline for political parties to submit the names of their candidates and running mates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) draws closer.
If confirmed, the decision would mark a departure from the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted in 2019 by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who selected Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe as his running mate for his second term.
Kaduna had, for two decades after the return to democracy in 1999, maintained a tradition of balancing its governorship ticket along religious lines. Former governors Ahmed Makarfi, Namadi Sambo, Patrick Yakowa, and Mukhtar Ramalan Yero all served alongside deputies of a different faith.
Political observers say Uba Sani’s reported choice could signal a return to the state’s long-standing power-sharing tradition, particularly by selecting a Christian from Southern Kaduna, a region that has consistently advocated greater political inclusion.
However, the governor has yet to officially announce his running mate, and the reports remain subject to formal confirmation before the INEC submission deadline.
