The Niger State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for his role in preventing internal conflicts before the party’s primaries, attributing the peaceful atmosphere to his consistent efforts in reconciliation and consensus-building across the state.
Speaking to journalists in Minna, APC Publicity Secretary Musa Sarkinkaji revealed that the governor and party leaders held numerous late-night meetings with aggrieved aspirants and stakeholders to forestall divisions that could have weakened the ruling party. “Governor Bago and the party leadership spent many sleepless nights working to reconcile aspirants, ensuring that primaries across Niger State were peaceful and credible. Their timely intervention helped avert crises and facilitated consensus in several key districts,” Sarkinkaji stated.
According to him, these interventions successfully eased tensions in major senatorial zones, leading to consensus agreements that circumvented the need for fiercely contested elections in certain areas. Specifically, in the Niger North Senatorial District, aspirants voluntarily stepped down to support Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, enabling the district to adopt an affirmation process rather than a competitive primary. Similarly, reconciliation in Zone B allowed Senator Sani Musa to continue unopposed via affirmation.
The APC spokesman confirmed that both Niger East and Niger North senatorial districts would now conduct affirmation exercises as a direct outcome of the governor’s reconciliatory moves. He noted that the party had over 100 aspirants vying for House of Assembly tickets across the state, a scenario that could have sparked serious internal disagreements without the prompt intervention of the governor and party executives.
Sarkinkaji pointed out that the only remaining contentious issue was in the Niger South Senatorial District, where multiple aspirants declined to step down despite several rounds of negotiations. In response, Governor Bago directed that the district proceed with open primaries, emphasizing that delegates must be free to choose the party’s candidate through transparent voting. “Although consensus proved elusive in Niger South due to the high number of aspirants, the governor insisted that delegates decide via transparent voting. The APC remains dedicated to free, fair, and peaceful primaries,” Sarkinkaji added.
He assured party members that strict measures have been implemented to guarantee the integrity of primaries in affected areas. Election officials were selected from within the districts to enhance trust and credibility. Sarkinkaji also cautioned against spreading rumors that could cause confusion or tension during the primaries, particularly concerning House of Representatives elections. He reaffirmed that the APC leadership in Niger State remains committed to unity, stability, and internal democracy as the 2027 political season approaches.