President Bola Tinubu has rejected calls by federal lawmakers seeking automatic tickets ahead of the 2027 elections, instead affirming that state governors will determine candidates through party primaries.
The decision followed a closed-door meeting between the President and the leadership of the National Assembly, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Lawmakers had reportedly lobbied for guaranteed return tickets to secure their re-election bids.
However, sources said Tinubu made it clear that governors remain the political leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in their respective states and must retain control over candidate selection.
“He told them plainly that governors have the final say on who gets the ticket,” a source familiar with the meeting disclosed.
The President’s stance is said to have heightened anxiety among lawmakers, especially those with strained relationships with their state governors, as their chances of securing party tickets may now depend heavily on local political dynamics.
Less than 24 hours after meeting lawmakers, Tinubu convened another session with APC governors, where he formally empowered them to oversee the primaries process in line with the Electoral Act.
Governor Mohammed Bago confirmed that the President gave governors the go-ahead to conduct primaries using either consensus or direct voting methods.
“He has given us the mandate to proceed with primaries based on the law,” Bago said, adding that the move reinforces internal party democracy.
Similarly, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said discussions focused on ensuring transparent and rancour-free primaries that would strengthen the party ahead of the elections.
The development aligns with earlier remarks by APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, who stated that automatic tickets are not recognised under the party’s constitution or the Electoral Act.
“There is no provision for automatic tickets. Candidates must emerge through consensus or primaries,” he had said.
The APC has since released its revised timetable for the 2027 elections, with House of Representatives primaries scheduled for May 15, Senate primaries for May 18, and the presidential primary set for May 23, 2026.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the general elections will hold on January 16, 2027, for presidential and National Assembly seats, while governorship and state assembly elections are fixed for February 6, 2027.
Tinubu’s position is expected to reshape political calculations within the APC, as many lawmakers now face uncertain re-election prospects amid growing influence of governors over party structures.
The move could also lead to significant turnover in the National Assembly, as internal party contests intensify across several states.
