By YAHAYA ISA

The Niger Christian Voice in Politics and Governance (NCVIPG), has decried alleged unfair treatment of Christian aspirants in the ongoing political party primaries across the state, especially the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Habila Diko, Coordinator of the association, stated this while briefing newsmen at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Secretariat on Wednesday in Minna.

“We want to draw the attention of the Niger governor, Muhammad Bago, and the APC leadership to the unfair treatment meted at Christian aspirants vying for various positions at the ongoing party primaries.

“We have noted with great concern the deliberate and systemic exclusion of Christian aspirants under the guise of consensus and zoning,” he said.

Diko added that the development had left Christians with no representation in the state vying for various positions.

According to him, there are fillers that Christian aspirants vying for the State Assembly are currently being pressurised to withdraw or step down.

“We strongly condemn this action resulting from zoning or consensus, ” he said.

Diko said there was the need for leadership of the party to clear its name on the matter.

According to Dikko, this has become necessary as it is being peddled that the APC leadership are behind the call for Christian aspirants to step down or be screened out.

He appealed to the governor to look into the disturbing development in the interest of equity, peace and balanced political representation.

“We want to use this medium to appeal to other political parties in the state not to tow this same line or undermine Christian aspirants vying for positions.

“We want them to ensure fairness and total inclusion in their own primaries, ” he said.

Reacting to the allegations, Mr Musa Sarkinkaji, State Publicity Secretary of APC, said the party doesn’t discriminate against anyone on the basis of religion, tribal or geographical affiliation.

“Niger is neither a Muslim nor a Christian state. So, for an individual, a group or an association to claim that the party and its leadership are sidelining them from getting the party’s ticket is true “he said. (NAN)

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