The Niger State Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, YOWICAN, has vowed to vote massively against any political party that fields the same faith ticket for governorship in the forthcoming general elections.

The state chairman of the YOWICAN, Loyin Danladi Emmanuel, flanked by conveners of youth groups, made the remark during a press conference in Minna.

leaders of Agents of Transformation, Niger Christian Youth Forum, Concerned Christian Youth Movement, Initiative for Better and Brighter Nigeria, as well as Nupe Christian Youth Vanguard and Journalists for Christ (Niger State Chapter).

He said, "We are calling on all political parties in Niger State to, as a matter of necessity, field Christian candidates as either substantive or deputy positions and reasonable appointive offices." As equal stakeholders in Niger State who are concerned about the development of the state, we are ready to mobilize Christians not to support and vote massively for any political platform that will not recognize them as equal stakeholders by presenting the same faith ticket for the forthcoming general elections.

Emmanuel explained that the same should be translated to all levels of appointments and elections, beginning with the Deputy Governorship slot.

The state chairman of YOWICAN noted that ”since the return of democracy, there has been a religious bias amongst the political class who have sidelined Christians from governance and administration of the state." This, we believe, has led to the gradual reduction of the government’s impact on the state.

He assured us that in the forthcoming general elections, any party that fields a Christian as its deputy governor would get the bulk of Christian votes in the state.

“We are convinced that whichever party gets the bulk of Christian votes will without a doubt carry the day." "What we are demanding is not new in our country, where we practice a quota system,” Emmanuel said.

The groups maintained, "Let humanity be our first driving force and, on this, we stand for equity and justice." We are aware that there have been so many arguments about the population of Christians in the state. Since democracy is said to be a game of numbers, it is still very much a matter of academic debate.

Also, the convener of the Nupe Christian Youth Vanguard, Alexander Tsado, stated that Christians in Niger State are ready to participate at all levels of politics and should be given an equal opportunity to contribute to the development of the state.

He added, "All we are telling political parties is that with our voter cards, we will sway votes towards the party that has sympathy for the Christians in the state." They have played a vital role in the growth and development of Niger State since the return to democracy in Nigeria. We are also asking for a level playing ground for everyone. "