Despite the absence of a clear constitutional provision for deputy governors, the selection of gubernatorial running mates has become highly contentious in the build-up to the February 6, 2027, governorship polls.

This development comes ahead of the political parties’ race to meet the August 8 deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the submission of governorship and House of Assembly candidates.

Already the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has uploaded the names of its governorship candidates and their running mates for 27 of the 28 states where governorship elections will be held, signaling that the party has largely resolved disputes arising from its primaries, while party sources said only one North-East state remains outstanding due to disagreement over the choice of a deputy governorship candidate, with a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja expected to conclude the process.

Checks by The Guardian revealed that, given the presence of strong contending political parties and the exodus of party kingpins to other opposition parties in some states, governorship candidates of the major platforms have adopted various strategies, including religious, demographic, and political considerations, to select their running mates.

In various states, including Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Ogun, Oyo and Lagos, the nomination of governorship running mates dominated political parties’ preparations to regularise their candidate nominations for next year’s general election.

For instance, in a bid to ensure religious balance on his governorship ticket, the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, yesterday, picked Jerry Adams, a Christian, as his running mate on the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The choice of Adams comes as a clear departure from the same faith Muslim-Muslim ticket that produced the incumbent Deputy Governor, Dr Hauwa Hadiza Balarabe, which he inherited from his predecessor, Nasir el-Rufai, in the guise of gender balance.

In a statement, yesterday, Sani said: “Today, we take another decisive step in our collective journey towards building a more united, peaceful and inclusive Kaduna State.

“After wide consultations, deep reflection and earnest prayers, I am delighted to announce the nomination of Mr Jerry Adams as my running mate in the 2027 Governorship Election. This decision is far greater than the selection of a deputy governorship candidate.”

Speaking on the challenges of selecting governorship candidates, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial standard-bearer for Adamawa State, Dr Maurice Vunobolki, told The Guardian that although it is the duty of the flag-bearer to choose his running mate, the party structures are very important in making that selection.

Vunobolki disclosed that he spelt out five criteria for selecting a running mate, stressing that, based on those criteria, the party shortlisted three candidates.

He added: “Since both candidates, the governor and his deputy, should work together, it is very important that s/he should be transparent, must have a good pedigree, must be energetic, must be well educated and exposed, someone that is reliable, that can be relied on, and also has the acceptability of people.”

In Kano State, the choice of Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, the son of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Vice Presidential candidate, as gubernatorial deputy, caused rumpus in the party, just as the issue of same faith governorship ticket is roiling the APC based on Governor Bago’s insistence on retaining his deputy for next year’s election.

Why running mates could shape 2027 battle

With the major political parties having settled their governorship candidates for the 2027 elections in Ogun, Oyo, and Lagos States, attention is increasingly shifting to the strategic importance of their running mates.

In Ogun, where politics has historically revolved around the delicate balance among the Egba, Ijebu, Remo and Yewa/Awori blocs, the choice of a running mate has become an integral part of the electoral equation.

The two major contenders appear to have reflected these considerations in their choices. While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ladi Adebutu, selected veteran journalist and Iyasuna of Egbaland, Lateefah Kolapo-Sowunmi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer, Olamilekan Solomon Adeola, picked chartered accountant Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun.

The choices suggest that both parties looked beyond loyalty to their governorship candidates and focused on the additional electoral value their deputies could bring to the ticket.

One of the most important considerations is regional balancing. Ogun’s governorship contest has long been influenced by demands for equity among the state’s political blocs. By choosing deputies from areas considered politically strategic, parties hope to strengthen acceptance in regions where their governorship candidates may require additional support

However, political observers cautioned that the electoral value of a deputy governorship candidate should not be overstated.

Running mates rarely determine election outcomes on their own. Rather, they complement the strengths of the governorship candidate by helping to consolidate support across geographical, professional and demographic divides.

As campaigns gather momentum, both the APC and PDP are expected to deploy their deputies beyond ceremonial roles, assigning them responsibilities in grassroots mobilisation, stakeholder engagement and issue-based advocacy.

Ultimately, while governorship candidates will remain the principal faces of the contest, the success of their campaigns may depend, in part, on how effectively they leverage the political capital, networks and credibility their running mates bring to the ticket.

In Lagos State, the APC deputy governor and candidate for the 2027 governorship election, Obafemi Hamzat, selected Princess Damilola Sonayon-James as his running mate, reflecting the party’s strategy of balancing regional interests, promoting gender inclusion and consolidating support in Badagry Division.

A grassroots politician and party leader from Badagry, Sonayon-James offers the ticket access to a constituency that has long sought greater representation in Lagos’ power structure. Her emergence is also expected to strengthen the APC’s appeal among women and younger voters, while rewarding the division’s loyalty to the party.

Beyond electoral considerations, her background in party organisation and community mobilisation is expected to complement Hamzat’s campaign across the state.

Doing away with Muslim-Muslim hangover

An insider in Kaduna State APC disclosed that the party leaders’ decision to do away with the Muslim-Muslim governorship pairing was aided by the fact that the incumbent deputy governor is serving out her two constitutional terms and informed by the need to rebuild trust among the various religious groups in the state.

But, explaining the rationale for the selection of a Christian running mate, Governor Sani stated: “it is a reaffirmation of the values that have guided our administration since I took the oath of office on 29 May 2023; the values of inclusion, justice, fairness, equity and the unwavering conviction that every citizen of Kaduna State deserves a genuine sense of belonging.”

“Kaduna is a remarkable state, blessed with an extraordinary diversity of faiths, ethnicities and cultures. That diversity is not a burden; it is our greatest strength. Our history has taught us difficult lessons about the high cost of division, mistrust and exclusion. Yet it has also shown us that when we choose dialogue over discord, inclusion over alienation, and justice over prejudice, our people achieve extraordinary things together.”

Going down memory lane, the governor recalled that for more than three years, “our administration has worked tirelessly to heal old wounds and restore confidence in government.

“We have deliberately ensured that the dividends of democracy reach every part of our State. Across all 23 Local Government Areas, investments in roads, schools, hospitals, water supply, agriculture, rural development and social protection have been guided by one simple principle: no community should be left behind, and no citizen should feel excluded.

“Together with our traditional rulers, religious leaders, community organisations, women and youth groups, we have strengthened the foundations of peace through dialogue, mutual respect and shared development. As security has improved, farmers have returned to their lands, businesses have expanded, investments have grown and hope has steadily replaced fear in many communities. Our experience has affirmed a simple truth: lasting peace is built not only by security measures but by fairness, inclusion and equal opportunity.”

“Jerry Adams,” the governor spoke further, “is an accomplished public servant, an outstanding tax administrator and an institution builder whose leadership has transformed the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service into one of Nigeria’s most respected revenue agencies. Through innovation, transparency and professionalism, he has helped strengthen our fiscal capacity, enabling the government to invest even more in the education of our children, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture and other critical sectors that improve the lives of our people.

“As we look towards 2027, I invite every son and daughter of Kaduna State to see this moment not through the narrow prism of religion, ethnicity or geography, but through the broader vision of the Kaduna we are building together; a Kaduna where every child can dream without fear, every community can flourish, every faith is respected and every citizen has an equal stake in our common future.” (The Guardian)

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