2027: Choose Christian running mate or risk protest votes, group tells Gov. Bago

A coalition of Christian members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Niger State has urged Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago to pick a Christian running mate for the 2027 governorship election, warning that failure to do so could trigger protest votes against the ruling party.

The group, Concerned Christians in Niger State, said the demand was aimed at promoting fairness, inclusiveness and equity, while addressing what it described as the growing marginalisation of Christians within the APC in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, its co-convener and former Commissioner for Information, Jonathan Vatsa, alleged that the Bago administration and the APC sidelined Christian politicians during the party’s primaries by compelling many of them to abandon their aspirations.

He said the coalition was demanding greater inclusion in the party’s affairs, warning that Christian members might be left with no option but to support any political party that fields a Christian deputy governorship candidate in 2027.

“We are calling on Governor Mohammed Bago and all major stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress to facilitate the emergence of a Christian running mate to the governor for the 2027 gubernatorial election,” Mr Vatsa said.

“We vehemently reject the continuous Muslim-Muslim governorship ticket, given our contributions, dedication and population in the state.”

According to him, Christians account for more than 45 per cent of the state’s population but have continued to be excluded from key elective positions.

“The ruling government has undermined and relegated Christians to the background. In the just-concluded APC primaries, qualified and popular Christian politicians who aspired to contest various elective positions were compelled to drop their ambitions because of their religion,” he alleged.

Mr Vatsa further claimed that all the APC’s 25 local government chairmen in the state are Muslims, while about 98 per cent of the vice-chairpersons are also Muslims.

He added that all three APC senatorial candidates, the 11 House of Representatives candidates and 26 of the 27 House of Assembly candidates for the 2027 elections are Muslims.

He argued that since Zone B has a significant Christian population, the deputy governorship slot should be zoned to a Christian from the area.

“We supported your governorship candidature during the 2023 elections. This time around, we are demanding that the APC ticket reflects fairness, equity and inclusiveness by ensuring a Christian becomes your running mate,” he said.

Also speaking, the coalition’s secretary, Jude Johnson, said many Christian members of the APC had already expressed dissatisfaction with the prospect of another Muslim-Muslim governorship ticket.

“Politically, economically, educationally and socially, for us to accept another four years of a Muslim-Muslim ticket is unacceptable,” Mr Johnson said.

“This is a legitimate concern for equity, and no one can query our right to demand a seat at the table.”