President Bola Tinubu has rejected calls from members of the National Assembly seeking automatic return tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections, instead handing the responsibility of candidate selection to state governors.
The decision was reached during a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa involving APC leaders and members of the National Assembly leadership, where discussions focused on party structure and preparations for the next election cycle.
Tinubu’s position means that serving lawmakers will no longer enjoy guaranteed re-election tickets, with their political future now dependent on party primaries and their relationship with state governors.
The President reaffirmed that governors remain key stakeholders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and will play a decisive role in determining candidates in their respective states.
This effectively strengthens governors’ influence in party primaries while maintaining adherence to the Electoral Act, which allows parties to conduct direct, indirect, or consensus primaries.
The development has sparked concern among some federal lawmakers who had pushed for automatic tickets to ensure continuity in legislative work.
While supporters argue that automatic tickets would stabilize governance, critics maintain that the move reinforces internal democracy by encouraging open competition.
The decision comes as political parties begin early positioning for the 2027 elections, with increasing negotiations over primaries and candidate selection.
Analysts say the move could reshape power dynamics within the APC, giving governors greater influence but also increasing internal competition.