The Niger State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has credited Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago with preventing major internal crises ahead of the party’s primaries through aggressive reconciliation and consensus-building efforts across the state.

APC Publicity Secretary, Musa Sarkinkaji, in an interview with journalists in Minna, said the governor and party leadership spent several nights meeting aggrieved aspirants and stakeholders to avoid divisions that could have destabilised the ruling party.

“Governor Bago and the party leadership spent sleepless nights reconciling aspirants to ensure peaceful and credible primaries across Niger State. Their intervention helped prevent crises and produced consensus in key districts,” Sarkinkaji said.

According to him, the interventions successfully resolved tensions in key senatorial districts and produced consensus arrangements that eliminated the need for bitter contests in some areas.

Sarkinkaji disclosed that in Niger North Senatorial District, aspirants agreed to step down and support Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, allowing the district to adopt affirmation instead of a competitive primary.

“In Niger North, aspirants agreed to step aside for Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, while reconciliation efforts in Zone B also allowed Senator Sani Musa to continue through affirmation,” he added.

The APC spokesman explained that both Niger East and Niger North senatorial districts would now conduct affirmation exercises following the successful reconciliation moves by the governor.

He noted that the APC had over 100 aspirants seeking House of Assembly tickets across the state, a situation he said could have triggered serious internal disputes without timely intervention by party leaders.

Sarkinkaji stated that the only major contest left unresolved was the Niger South Senatorial District where multiple aspirants reportedly refused to step down despite repeated meetings and negotiations.

He said Governor Bago eventually directed that the district proceed to open primaries, insisting that delegates must be allowed to freely decide the party’s candidate through voting.

“Although consensus could not be reached in Niger South because of the large number of aspirants, the governor directed that delegates should freely decide the candidate through transparent voting. The APC remains committed to free, fair and peaceful primaries,” Sarkinkaji stated.

The APC spokesman assured party members that strict measures had been put in place to guarantee free, fair and transparent primaries in the affected areas.

He added that officials conducting the elections were selected from within the districts to strengthen trust and credibility in the process.

Sarkinkaji also warned against the spread of rumours capable of causing confusion or tension during the primaries, especially regarding the House of Representatives elections.

He maintained that the APC leadership in Niger State remains focused on unity, stability and internal democracy ahead of the 2027 political season.