A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State and former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, has resigned from the ruling party.
Vatsa’s resignation was conveyed in a letter addressed to the APC Chairman of Gulu Anguwa-Gulu Vatsa Ward in the Lapai Local Government Area of the state, dated October 18, 2026.
In the letter, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Minna on Sunday, the former commissioner said his decision to leave the party was personal and followed consultations with his family, friends and political associates.
“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,” he stated.
Vatsa also expressed appreciation to the party for the opportunity to serve in various capacities during his 13 years of membership.
Before the merger that led to the formation of the APC in 2013, Vatsa was a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He later became the pioneer Publicity Secretary of the APC in Niger State, a position from which he played a role in the party’s victory in the 2015 general elections.
He was subsequently appointed Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in 2015 by former Governor Abubakar Sani Bello. Following a cabinet reshuffle in 2017, he was dropped as commissioner and subsequently appointed Coordinator of Public Communication.
In 2023, Vatsa was appointed Special Adviser on Public-Private Partnership by Governor Umaru Bago. He later served as Special Adviser on Media and Communication before reportedly being dropped from the administration in December.
The former commissioner has remained a vocal critic of the Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement at both the presidential and governorship levels ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He has repeatedly called for religious balance in political leadership, warning that the arrangement could undermine the APC’s electoral prospects in the forthcoming elections.
Vatsa has also maintained his opposition to the Muslim-Muslim arrangement in Niger State, insisting that political appointments and elective positions should reflect a balance that accommodates the state’s religious diversity.
His resignation comes amid political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, although he did not disclose his next political move in the resignation letter.
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