Fallout from APC Primaries: Niger APC Leader Vatsa Criticizes Process as Self-Destructive and Undermining Democracy
As reactions continue to pour in following the recent Senate and House of Representatives primaries conducted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), party leader and former Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, has condemned the process as a sham and a mockery of democratic principles.
Addressing reports of irregularities across Niger State and troubling issues in other states, Vatsa said in Minna on Wednesday that the party has repeatedly made the same mistakes and is heading toward self-destruction.
Expressing disappointment with the results, he pointed out allegations of manipulation, widespread disillusionment, and doubts about the credibility of the primaries.
Vatsa, a former party publicity secretary in Niger, compared the recent national assembly primaries to “a demonstration of craze,” a phrase made famous by Nigeria’s late legendary Afrobeat musician Fela.
He claimed that misconduct was worsened by rumors that some aspirants paid as much as ₦150 million to secure tickets through what critics call “political manipulation of the century,” only to be let down, with some participants feeling cheated.
He noted the irony that many who are now lamenting the results had previously stayed silent, while others voiced serious concerns about exclusion and manipulation.
Vatsa expressed disappointment that a party whose 2015 slogans focused on “transparency and the fight against corruption” is now caught up in manipulation and irregularities.
“All we campaigned against in 2015, which earned us the confidence of Nigerians, is now being done worse,” he lamented.
As a founding member of the APC, Vatsa stressed that he did not expect such widespread manipulation during the primaries and called it unacceptable.
He urged the party to pursue genuine reconciliation and rebuild trust to prevent anti-party sentiments in the upcoming elections.
“We must go back to the grassroots and engage the people before the general elections,” he advised.
He added, “When silence becomes politically convenient for some, others like us must speak out. We will continue voicing our grievances and advocating for transparency.”
Vatsa warned that the real defeat may not be for candidates who fail to win but for those who sacrifice collective interests for personal gain, only to realize that political submission rarely leads to inheritance.
He concluded by emphasizing that, as former President Umaru Yar’adua advised, “we must recognize that the current system is flawed and must be corrected to regain public trust.”
