Tinubu grants governors authority over party primaries, rejects automatic tickets for lawmakers
via Punch Nigeria7 min read
President Bola Tinubu has rejected requests from the Senate leadership for automatic return tickets for ruling party legislators ahead of the 2027 general elections. Instead, he has reaffirmed the authority of state governors in selecting candidates for their respective states. This decision was made during a closed-door meeting with the extended leadership of the Senate on Wednesday evening, and subsequently reinforced in a meeting with APC governors on Thursday evening. Governors, including Mohammed Bago of Niger State and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, confirmed that the President formally empowered them to manage the primaries process, allowing for either consensus or direct primaries. This stance aligns with the All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who previously stated that automatic tickets are not part of the party's ethos or constitution. The APC has released a revised timetable for its 2027 primaries, with Senate primaries scheduled for May 18, 2026, and House of Representatives primaries for May 15, 2026. The Independent National Electoral Commission has set the Presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, and Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for February 6, 2027. This decision by President Tinubu is expected to impact the re-election bids of several lawmakers, particularly those with strained relationships with their state governors.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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