— Vatsa, APC Chieftain Tells Bago

By Michael Lim

Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger state has been urged to select a Christian running mate for the 2027 governorship election for fairness and to garner more Christian support.

Jonathan Vatsa, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State and former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, has advised.

He warned that failure to do so could cost the party significant votes due to the ongoing marginalisation of Christians in the state’s political landscape.

Speaking with journalists in Minna on Saturday, Vatsa expressed concern that the APC’s recent primaries produced almost exclusively Muslim candidates.

He noted that only one Christian secured a ticket for the entire State House of Assembly, while all three senatorial candidates, 11 House of Representatives candidates, and 26 out of 27 House of Assembly candidates are Muslims.

According to Vatsa, Christians have also been sidelined in political appointments, despite Governor Bago’s public outreach to Christian groups.

But he argued that symbolic gestures such as attending church programmes or making donations cannot substitute for genuine inclusion in governance.

“It’s not about attending church programmes, singing choruses or making donations. What matters is fairness and inclusion in appointments and elective positions,” he said.

Vatsa maintained that nominating a Christian deputy would help restore balance and strengthen the APC’s chances in 2027.

He cautioned that if opposition parties present Christian running mates, they could attract sympathy votes from the Christian community.

He further stressed that the credibility of candidates, rather than party platforms, will play a decisive role in the upcoming elections.

By Felix Umande, Makurdi

The All Progressives Congress, APC, National Working Committee, NWC, has dropped former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and several other aspirants in a sweeping overhaul of the party’s Benue National Assembly candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The changes, approved after the conclusion of the party’s primary election appeal process, have been forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as the APC’s final submission for the affected constituencies.

According to the revised list approved by the NWC, Suswam was removed as the APC candidate for Benue North East Senatorial District and replaced by Emmanuel Memga Udende.

In Benue North West Senatorial District, Hon. Benjamin Terseer Aber was also dropped and replaced by Sen. Titus Tartenger Zam, following the review and approval of recommendations from the Primary Election Appeal Committee.

The shake-up extended to the House of Representatives, with substitutions in five federal constituencies.

In Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, Ikper Chris Terfa was replaced by Dickson Tarkighir.
While in Gwer/Gwer West Federal Constituency, Engr. David Terhemba Nongo was replaced by Austin Asema Achado.
In Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency, Livinus Tsar Adzor was dropped for Sesoo Ikpagher Gboko.
In Buruku Federal Constituency, Gideon Inyom was replaced by Sekav Iortyom. While Kwande/ Ushongo Federal Constituency witnessed the replacement of Prof. Kohol Iornem by the incumbent Terseer Ugbor.

The NWC said the substitutions were based on petitions heard and recommendations submitted by the Primary Election Appeal Committee after aggrieved aspirants challenged the outcome of the primaries.

A letter transmitting the revised list to INEC was jointly signed by APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.

The party stated that the adjustments represent its “final position” after reviewing all appeals and were carried out in line with the Electoral Act 2022 as amended and INEC guidelines.

With the NWC’s approval, the newly listed candidates are expected to fly the APC flag in the affected Benue senatorial districts and federal constituencies in the 2027 elections, unless further legal challenges arise.

Publicity Secretary cites Supreme Court ruling and INEC recognition, dismisses parallel certificate of return as “ploy to deceive”

By Felix Umande, Makurdi

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State has affirmed Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, SAN, as its authentic governorship candidate and said the party has no faction in the state.

Publicity Secretary of Benue PDP Chapter, Hon. Bright Yima Antyo, made this known during an interview with Press Icon Newspaper on Thursday in Makurdi. The interview sought clarification on the parallel certificates of return reportedly issued to Aondoakaa and Hon. Emmanuel Agbo by two factions of the party.

But Antyo said the Benue PDP is acting based on the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed Abdulrahman Muhammed as the National Chairman of the party. He added that INEC has since recognized the Abdulrahman-led leadership. In his words:

“Anything that is emanating from anybody or from any quarters is just a ploy to distract people, or to distract unsuspecting supporters. We don’t want to engage them because we know our stand, we know our position.”

The spokesman stressed that the party is not working with the Atiku-led group saying: “Atiku is not on board. So, we are not working with Atiku. Anything that is coming from there is just a ploy to deceive.”

Antyo insisted that in Benue State, the PDP is answerable to only one chairman, Rt. Hon. Ezekiel Adaji. “We don’t know any other chairman,” he said.

Antyo further disclosed that INEC is expected to upload the names of candidates affirmed for various positions by Monday:

“I am affirming, confidently, that Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa SAN is the governorship candidate of PDP in Benue State. We have no faction in Benue State, and we are not ready to mingle with all those people that are peddling those kind of lies. So, Michael Kaase Aondoakaa is the authentic candidate of the PDP. “