Daniel Atori & Mairo Allawa
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa has dumped the party thirteen years after citing same faith ticket for the 2027 general elections.
It should be noted that Vatsa, formerly of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) before the merger in 2014, became the pioneer Publicity Secretary of the APC in Niger state where he helped the party to win the 2015 elections in the state.
According to his letter of resignation addressed to the APC Chairman of Gulu Anguwa-Gulu Vatsa ward in Lapai local government area of the state, and dated 6th October 2026, Vatsa said his decision to quit the party was personal.
It should be noted that Vatsa later became the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism under former governor Abubakar Sani Bello led administration in 2015.
In 2017, after a minor cabinet reshuffle he was given Coordinator, Public Communication.
He was later appointed Special Adviser on Public Private Partnership (PPP) under the present administration of Umaru Mohammed Bago in 2023, and later Special Adviser on Media and Communication before he was dropped in December last year.
The letter read in part: “I write to inform you of my decision to resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Niger state with effect from Monday 19th October, 2026”.
New Telegraph gathered that, since the Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago maintained the Muslim-Muslim arrangements in the state for the 2027 general elections, Vatsa has kept a distance from the government house, insisting that there must be balance in the sharing of political appointments and elective offices in the state.
In the three paragraphs letter, a copy which was made available to Journalists in Minna on Sunday, the outspoken spokesman of the APC in Niger state also said “my decision to relinquish my membership of the party was taken after due consultation with my family, friends and political associates”.
Vatsa thanked the party for the opportunity given to him to serve in various capabilities over the last 13 years of his membership of the party.
it could be recalled that Vatsa has remained one of the critical voices against the same faith ticket at all levels ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He has maintained his opposition against the Muslim-Muslim tickets at both the presidency and the governorship levels, warning the party of a possible doom in the 2027 general elections.
