Tinubu Leaves Tickets to Governors
President Bola Tinubu, during meetings held this week in Abuja, told federal lawmakers and governors that the process of choosing candidates for the 2027 elections would remain in the hands of state governors and party structures, rejecting pressure for automatic return tickets for serving lawmakers.
The decision followed a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa where leaders of the Senate reportedly sought assurances for sitting legislators to secure tickets without facing competitive primaries. Instead of granting that request, Tinubu was said to have maintained that governors remain key figures in deciding who gets party tickets in their states.
The development has created uncertainty for many lawmakers, especially those with strained relationships with their governors, as they now face possible tough battles during the primaries.
After meeting Senate leaders, the President also met with governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress and gave them the go-ahead to manage the primaries in line with the Electoral Act. The governors were said to have discussed consensus arrangements and direct primaries as the two approved paths for selecting candidates.
The move also appears to support the party leadership’s earlier position that automatic tickets are not part of APC rules. Party officials had already maintained that incumbency alone would not guarantee anyone a return ticket and that aspirants would be judged through the approved process.
The revised party timetable has already fixed dates for the primaries, with House of Representatives primaries slated for May 15, Senate primaries for May 18, governorship primaries for May 21, and the presidential primary for May 23.
The new direction could affect several lawmakers whose return bids may now depend on negotiations with governors and local party leaders. In some states, political alignments are already shifting, with some governors reportedly backing new aspirants for Senate and governorship seats.
In Ogun State, political moves around the Ogun East senatorial seat have raised questions over the future of current representation, while in other states, some senators are already pursuing governorship ambitions, opening the way for changes in the National Assembly.
Observers believe the President’s decision may lead to major changes in the makeup of the Senate and House of Representatives after 2027, as many lawmakers may no longer enjoy easy paths back to office.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed January 16, 2027, for presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and state assembly polls will hold on February 6, 2027.
With primaries approaching, Tinubu’s position has made clear that candidate selection will be driven by party structures at state level rather than blanket protection for sitting lawmakers, setting the stage for intense political contests within the ruling party.