- A coalition of Christian groups under the umbrella of the Niger State Christian Voice in Politics and Governance has openly accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State of systematically excluding Christian candidates from its ongoing party primaries.
- The coalition alleged that the party leadership is utilizing consensus and zoning arrangements as a guise to pressure Christian aspirants into withdrawing from Senatorial, House of Representatives, and State Assembly contests.
- Highlighting a total deficit in representation, the group pointed out that all principal governance positions in the state, including the legislative and judicial leadership, are currently occupied exclusively by officials of Muslim extraction.
A coalition of Christian groups in Niger State, the Niger State Christian Voice in Politics and Governance, has accused the state All Progressives Congress of excluding Christians from participating in the ongoing party primaries.
During a press conference held in Minna, the state capital, the coalition insisted that the current political maneuvers are designed to ensure that no principal officers of Christian extraction emerge ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The statement further alleged that the APC leadership has systematically pressured Christian candidates to withdraw under the guise of zoning or consensus agreements, leaving the Christian population without representation for key National Assembly positions.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the coordinator of the coalition, Habila Diko, explicitly called on the state governor, Mohammed Bago, to intervene and reverse the unfair treatment meted out to Christian aspirants vying for Senatorial, House of Representatives, and State Assembly seats.
While Diko appreciated Governor Bago’s broader vision to rotate power across the 25 local government areas via an established zoning system, he condemned the tactical exclusion of Christians within that framework.
The group cited specific examples of political casualties, including Senator Peter Ndalikali and House of Representatives member Yussuf Kure, who reportedly failed to return due to immense pressure from party elites.
To underscore the severity of the imbalance, the coalition noted that there is currently no Christian member serving in the state House of Assembly, pointing out that the final three Christian lawmakers in the outgoing assembly, including the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Eunice Afiniki, were forced to step down.
Diko stressed that the state’s entire top-tier administrative architecture is completely homogenous, noting that the Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Head of Service, Chief Judge, Secretary to the State Government, and Chief of Staff are all Muslims.
The coalition, which brings together diverse bodies such as the Catholic Social Forum, TEKAN/ECWA youth wing, Nupe Christian Forum, and various APC Christian youth groups, argued that for the sake of equity, fairness, and justice, the state must carry every demographic along.
Demographically, demographic assessments indicate that Niger State is evenly balanced, with Christians making up 40 percent of the population, Muslims comprising another 40 percent, and the remaining 20 percent consisting of adherents of other faiths, including African traditional religions.
