— 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 Isa Abdul, Abuja

After a review of party primaries across the federation, Governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) have resolved to meet with Prof Netanwe Yilwatda, Chairman of the party, and other leaders.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), said the resolution was reached at the forum’s meeting which ended in early hours of Tuesday in Abuja.

The PGF is an umbrella body of all serving APC governors.

Uzodimma, while addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting said that the governors also resolved to work to ensure that Nigerians were better off.

He said that the meeting reviewed the outcome of the party’s primaries across the federation, the recent Ekiti governorship election and various by elections in which the APC came out in ”flying colours”.

“We have resolved to work towards solving the problems and challenges facing our democratic space and ensuring that our people are better off.

“We also resolved to meet with the leadership of the party to plan the coming 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections. We are ready and good to go,” he said.

The PGF chairman added that the forum further resolved to continue to work with the APC leadership to support and strengthen it and prepare it for future elections.

The meeting was attended by governors of Ekiti, Zamfara, Taraba, Lagos, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom and Borno States among others.

The meeting may not be unconnected with what some sources believe is the group’s displeasure with how the primaries were reportedly handled by the party hierarchy scheming out their candidates out for the 2007 polls

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.