Group Accuses Nasarawa APC of Marginalising Christians in Candidate Selection

The Integrity Youth Alliance has raised alarm over what it described as the growing marginalization of Christian politicians in Nasarawa State, accusing Governor Abdullahi Sule and the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership of promoting a political arrangement that sidelines Christians from key elective positions.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its spokesperson, Danjuma Lamido, the group expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of recent APC primaries in the state, noting that all major candidates that emerged for the governorship and senatorial positions are Muslims despite the state’s sizeable Christian population.

From the outcomes so far, the governorship candidate of the party is a Muslim, while all three senatorial candidates emerging from the process are also Muslims. This development has created widespread resentment among Christian stakeholders who believe that fairness, inclusion, and religious balance have been sacrificed.

The group cited the case of Angela Aya Bako, a female aspirant who sought to contest the Nasarawa North Senatorial District by-election but was disqualified from the race, while another aspirant, Danladi Halilu, was cleared to participate.

“The disqualification of Angela Aya Bako has heightened concerns among Christians across the state about unequal treatment and selective application of party rules,” the statement said.

Also, Nasarawa State Deputy governor, Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, a Christina aspirant was replaced with one Abubakar Nalaraba, a Muslim, for the Nasarawa South Constituency Senatorial seat.

The alliance also referenced an earlier petition by the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), Nasarawa State chapter, which urged Governor Sule and the APC leadership to provide equal opportunities for party members regardless of religious affiliation. 

According to the group, recent political developments suggest that those concerns have not been adequately addressed.

The Integrity Youth Alliance warned that the perceived exclusion of Christians from major senatorial tickets could have electoral consequences for President Bola Tinubu and the APC in Nasarawa State ahead of future elections.

It noted that with presidential and National Assembly elections expected to be held simultaneously, many Christian voters may be inclined to support parties and candidates they perceive as more committed to religious inclusion and fairness.

Political history should serve as a warning. During the 2023 presidential election under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi A. Sule, the APC lost Nasarawa State to the Labour Party. While the APC secured 172,922 votes, the Labour Party polled 191,361 votes. This outcome reflected the consequences of political decisions that failed to adequately accommodate the diverse interests of the state’s electorate.

According to the statement, the result demonstrated the political risks associated with decisions that fail to accommodate the diverse interests of the state’s electorate.

The alliance further said growing speculation that Governor Sule may be weakening the political base of President Tinubu in the state has been fueled by the current political arrangement and his alleged meeting with the ADC Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar at the Conrad Jabal Omar Hotel in Mecca on March 11, 2026, as exclusively reported by an online medium; Peoples Gazette

It argued that failure to ensure fair representation for Christians, particularly in the allocation of senatorial tickets, could undermine party unity and weaken voter confidence ahead of future elections.

Governor Sule may also be sending the wrong signal to Christians across Nasarawa State ahead of future political engagements if no effort is made to ensure that Christians are fairly represented, particularly in the allocation of senatorial tickets. A political structure that excludes a major demographic component of the state’s population cannot guarantee long-term unity, stability, or electoral success.

The group subsequently called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and the party’s national leadership to intervene and ensure fairness, equity and religious balance in the distribution of elective positions in Nasarawa State.

“The APC was founded on the principles of justice, inclusion and equal opportunity. These values must be upheld to preserve party unity and strengthen the party’s electoral prospects,” the statement added.