On April 16, 2026, in Abuja, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, said the party will not grant automatic tickets to National Assembly members ahead of future elections, clearing doubts over earlier speculation.
He explained during a media chat that the party’s constitution does not allow such an arrangement and that no candidate can be given a ticket without going through the proper process. He added that the Electoral Act also outlines how candidates must emerge, leaving no room for automatic selection.
According to him, all aspirants in the party will take part in primaries, either through consensus or direct voting, as stated in both the law and party guidelines. He said the same rules will apply to everyone, regardless of their current position.
Yilwatda also stated that performance will play a role in determining who gets support from party members, noting that those seeking another term will be assessed based on their work.
He maintained that the party is committed to following due process in selecting candidates, adding that internal democracy will guide decisions as preparations for future elections continue.