Cracks in APC widen as President Tinubu declines automatic return tickets for lawmakers
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sidelined lawmakers of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who previously supported controversial government-backed legislative decisions, including approvals for foreign loans and fraudulent Electoral Act-related provisions.
It is claimed that some of these legislators expected automatic return tickets to the National Assembly ahead of the next election cycle but have reportedly not been granted such assurances.
This is as Bola Ahmed Tinubu rebuffed lobbying efforts by Senate leaders seeking automatic return tickets for sitting lawmakers, instead reaffirming that state governors will determine party candidates in their respective states ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The decision followed a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa with key National Assembly figures, including Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abbas, who had reportedly pushed for guaranteed tickets to secure their re-election bids.
Sources familiar with the discussions said lawmakers argued that automatic tickets would ensure continuity and stability within the legislature. However, Tinubu made it clear that governors remain the political leaders of the party in their states and must have the final say on who emerges as candidates.
Less than 24 hours later, Tinubu reinforced this position during a separate meeting with APC governors, formally empowering them to oversee the primaries process in line with the Electoral Act.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago confirmed that governors have been given the authority to conduct primaries using either consensus or direct voting methods.
The development is said to have heightened anxiety among federal lawmakers, particularly those with strained relationships with their governors, as their chances of securing party tickets may now depend heavily on state-level political dynamics.
The move signals a significant internal power shift within the ruling party, placing governors at the center of candidate selection as preparations intensify toward the 2027 elections.
