A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State and former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, has described the party’s recently concluded Senate and House of Representatives primaries as a “facade” and a “mockery of democracy,” warning that the ruling party risks internal collapse if urgent corrective steps are not taken.
Speaking in Minna on Wednesday, Vatsa said the exercise was widely characterised by irregularities, dissatisfaction among aspirants, and allegations of manipulation, adding that the outcome has further raised questions about the credibility of the party’s internal democratic process.
He warned that the fallout from the primaries reflects deeper structural problems within the party, describing the process as a betrayal of the principles on which the APC was founded.
According to him, the conduct of the exercise amounted to what he termed a “demonstration of craze,” insisting that the level of discontent emerging from multiple states cannot be ignored without consequences for the party’s unity.
Vatsa alleged that reports from across the country suggest that some aspirants expended huge financial resources—reportedly up to ₦150 million—in pursuit of party tickets, only for the process to end in frustration amid accusations of political manipulation and exclusion.
He expressed concern that many of those now voicing dissatisfaction had previously remained silent when early warnings of irregularities were raised within the party structure.
“It is unfortunate that a party that once stood on the platform of transparency and anti-corruption is now being accused of the very practices it promised to eliminate,” he said.
The APC chieftain, who described himself as a pioneer member of the party in Niger State, said the scale of internal dissatisfaction shows that the party is drifting away from the ideals that earned it public trust in 2015.
Warning of possible political consequences ahead of the general elections, Vatsa urged the party leadership to urgently initiate reconciliation efforts and return to genuine grassroots engagement.
He said failure to address the grievances emerging from the primaries could lead to internal sabotage, weakened party structures, and reduced electoral strength in the coming polls.
“What we have right now is far from the people’s choice. We must go back to the grassroots and rebuild trust before the general elections,” he warned.
Vatsa further stressed that silence in the face of internal injustice only deepens political crises, insisting that open confrontation of party challenges is necessary for reform.
He concluded that unless urgent reforms are undertaken, the APC risks alienating its base and undermining its own political future ahead of the next electoral cycle.