President Bola Tinubu has ruled out automatic tickets for serving lawmakers in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), instead handing control of the party’s primary elections to state governors.
The decision, taken after a series of closed-door meetings at the Presidential Villa, has unsettled many federal lawmakers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Party insiders said the President firmly rejected lobbying by Senate leaders seeking guaranteed return tickets for incumbents, insisting that governors remain the key drivers of the party structure in their states.
Tinubu’s position was reinforced during a separate meeting with APC governors, where he reportedly authorised them to oversee the conduct of party primaries in line with the Electoral Act.
Governors who spoke after the meeting said the President directed them to ensure free and fair primaries using either direct voting or consensus arrangements, depending on state decisions.
However, the move has sparked concern among lawmakers, particularly senators whose political survival now depends heavily on their relationships with state governors.
The APC has since released its revised timetable for the 2027 primaries, with Senate primaries scheduled for May 18, House of Representatives on May 15, governorship on May 21, and the presidential primary on May 23, 2026.
Party officials also confirmed that nomination forms will go on sale from April 25, while screening and appeals processes will run through May.
With governors now in charge of the process, analysts say several lawmakers may struggle to secure return tickets, especially in states where political tensions already exist between incumbents and state leaders.
