Strong indications have emerged that Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, is in a dilemma over the choice of his running mate ahead of the 2027 elections, as his Deputy, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, whose two-term ends on 29 May 2027.
Balarabe was first nominated in 2019 by the former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to replace the late Arch. Bala Yusuf Bantex, who declined to run for a second term, instead opted to contest the Kaduna South senatorial election.
In 2023, Governor Sani, who won the APC governorship ticket, picked Balarabe as his running mate, and they went on to secure victory.
Governor Sani had, on 21 May 2026, emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general election after scoring an overwhelming 459,393 affirmation votes at the party’s primary election.
Sources who pleaded anonymity told LEADERSHIP that many interest groups and camps have mounted pressure and engaged in political scheming to see that Governor Sani picks the candidate of their choice.
Another source also confided that Governor Sani has intensified consultations with key stakeholders to arrive at a suitable running mate for the 2027 APC governorship joint ticket.
It was gathered that Governor Sani would have announced his running mate for now. Still, there were religious and ethnic angles to the selection process that delayed the unveiling of the chosen candidate.
Also, those against the Muslim-Muslim governorship ticket opined that Governor Uba Sani, who had embraced inclusive governance, should pick a Christian running mate in 2027, while others said there was no problem with Governor Sani continuing with a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
An APC chieftain in Kaduna North who does not want his name in print told our correspondent that, “We are one in Kaduna State and the Governor should give everybody a sense of belonging. To me, the Governor can nominate a competent, young, energetic person as a running mate. I don’t care about the person’s religion or tribe”
Speaking with LEADERSHIP, State APC Publicity Secretary, Muhammed Sani Haruna, said the party and Governor Sani were not under pressure or in dilemma over the choice of running mate.
Though Haruna said interest is a cardinal part of politics, “It is not true, the party and the Governor are not in a dilemma over the choice of running mate. Interest is a cardinal part of politics. In any position where someone wants to be appointed, there will always be competing interests. It’s a natural law of politics that interests will come, but the most important thing is that the Governor is focused and knows what he wants. He is delivering on his campaign promises, and definitely, when the time is right, he will announce his pick for his running mate”
“There is no state that has nominated a running mate under our party. We should be patient and see when the names are forwarded to INEC; by then, you will definitely see who the Governor is going to pick. They are available workforce in every part of the State that will feel comfortable in that position,” the APC state spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Ahmed Maiyaki, did not answer calls regarding the issue.