By Uthman Baba-Naseer, Minna
A coalition of Christian stakeholders in Niger State has called on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure the emergence of a Christian as the party’s deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections, warning against the retention of a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Speaking at a press briefing in Minna, the Secretary of the Coalition of Concerned Christian Stakeholders, Comrade Jude Johnson, said Christians in the state deserve fair and equitable representation in governance, insisting that the party should either field a Christian deputy governor or adopt an arrangement that adequately protects their interests.
Johnson appealed to Governor Mohammed Umar Bago and other APC stakeholders to facilitate the emergence of a Christian deputy governor, particularly from Niger East (Zone B) Senatorial District, which he said has a significant Christian population and qualified party members.
He argued that Christians have continued to make meaningful contributions to the growth of the APC and the state but have allegedly been sidelined in political appointments and elective positions.
According to him, Christians constitute over 45 per cent of the state’s population and should not be excluded from key leadership positions. He further alleged that during the party’s previous primaries, several qualified Christian aspirants were pressured to abandon their ambitions because of their religious affiliation.
Johnson maintained that the demand for a Christian deputy governor was not merely a religious issue but one of justice, fairness, inclusiveness and democratic representation.
Also speaking, Chairman of the coalition, Mr. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa, said the group shares the position of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State on the need for balanced representation in the state’s leadership.
Vatsa said the coalition would no longer accept what it described as the marginalisation of Christians through another Muslim-Muslim governorship ticket, describing such an arrangement as insensitive to the state’s religious diversity.
“As a coalition, we declare that it is not politically, economically, educationally or socially wise for us to accept another four years of a Muslim-Muslim ticket. This is a legitimate demand for equity, and no one can question our right to seek fair representation,” he said.
The coalition urged the APC leadership to embrace inclusiveness and ensure that the party’s 2027 governorship ticket reflects the religious diversity of Niger State in the interest of unity, equity and sustainable democratic governance.
