A coalition of Christian members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State has urged Governor Mohammed Bago to pick a Christian as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election, warning that another Muslim-Muslim ticket could cost the party crucial votes.
The group said its demand is rooted in fairness, equity and inclusive governance, insisting that Christians have remained largely excluded from the state’s political leadership despite their significant contribution to the APC’s electoral victories.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, former Niger State Commissioner for Information and co-convener of the group, Jonathan Vatsa, alleged that Christian politicians within the APC have consistently been denied opportunities to contest elective offices because of their faith.
Vatsa claimed that Christians account for more than 45 per cent of Niger State’s population but remain underrepresented in key political positions.
He alleged that all 25 APC local government chairmen in the state are Muslims, while about 98 percent of their vice-chairmen are also Muslims.
According to him, the party’s senatorial candidates, all 11 House of Representatives candidates and 26 of the 27 state House of Assembly candidates for the 2027 elections are Muslims, a situation he described as politically unfair.
The coalition argued that Niger Zone B, which has a sizeable Christian population, should produce the deputy governorship candidate in the interest of balance and inclusion.
Vatsa also reminded Governor Bago that Christians played a significant role in his emergence as governor in the 2023 election and urged him to reciprocate that support by choosing a Christian deputy in 2027.
He warned that failure to address the concerns could prompt many Christian APC members to vote for any political party that fields a Christian deputy governorship candidate.
Also speaking, the coalition’s Secretary, Jude Johnson, described the prospect of another Muslim-Muslim governorship ticket as unacceptable, stressing that Christians deserve equal representation in the political, economic, educational and social affairs of the state.
Johnson maintained that the group’s position was not intended to create division but to promote fairness, justice and broader participation in the governance of Niger State.
