Niger APC Chieftain Vatsa Commends Kaduna Governor Uba Sani for Choosing Christian Running Mate,
From Our Correspondent
Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, a prominent member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former commissioner for information, culture, and tourism in Niger State, has praised Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani for selecting a Christian as his running mate for the 2027 general election.
In an interview in Minna on Monday, Vatsa highlighted that the governor’s decision demonstrates respect for Kaduna’s Christian community, underscoring that religious sensitivity in a secular state like Kaduna is vital for the state’s political growth.
It is recalled that Governor Sani may have chosen a Christian from the Southern Kaduna Senatorial zone as his running mate, diverging from his predecessor Malam Nasir El-Rufai’s ‘faith-balanced’ approach of pairing a Christian as his running mate.
Vatsa, who previously served as a publicity secretary for the APC in Niger State and remains opposed to the Muslim-Muslim ticket endorsed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago ahead of 2027, described Governor Sani as a genuine supporter of the Christian faith, not only in Kaduna but across the country.
He stated that the Muslim-Christian ticket in Kaduna promotes peaceful coexistence and religious harmony, contrasting it with past administrations’ failures where lack of religious balancing led to avoidable crises. He added that Kaduna’s Christian community can now breathe a sigh of relief and feel more secure after years of marginalization.
Vatsa commended Governor Sani, saying, “He is a true lover of the Christian faith, not just in Kaduna but nationally. Unlike those who express love in words only to marginalize Christians in political appointments and elections.”
He urged well-meaning Christians in Kaduna to support the governor, asserting he deserves their backing.
Vatsa, the immediate past special adviser to Niger State’s governor on media and communication, reiterated his condemnation of President Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, calling it an insult to Christians nationwide.
He also criticized Niger State’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, accusing Governor Bago of betraying the trust of the Christian community by maintaining the same-faith arrangement for 2027.
Vatsa emphasized that such decisions are politically insensitive and unacceptable, vowing to continue speaking against marginalization regardless of threats, recalling his sacrifices for the APC since 2015 and committing to stand firm against intimidation
