President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rejected pressure from Senate leaders seeking automatic return tickets for sitting lawmakers ahead of the 2027 general elections, instead reaffirming the decisive role of state governors in determining party candidates.
The position was reached during a closed-door meeting with the extended leadership of the Senate at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday. It was gathered that the outcome has heightened anxiety among federal lawmakers, particularly those with strained ties to their state governors.
Although Tinubu had earlier hinted at supporting the return of incumbent legislators, raising expectations within the National Assembly, sources said senators used the meeting to press for firm assurances on automatic tickets.
A senior source familiar with the discussion said, “The meeting was to plead for automatic tickets for senators but President Tinubu insisted that the governor of each state has the influence over candidates.
“They made a case for continuity and stability and argued for automatic tickets, but the President was very clear in his response.
“He told them plainly that governors were the leaders of the party in their states and must have a say on who gets the ticket.”
Senate Majority Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele confirmed the meeting in a post on his verified X account, describing it as one that addressed “matters of urgent national importance” following a prior closed executive session of the Senate.
“Far-reaching decisions were taken at this strategic meeting,” Bamidele stated.
Also confirming the engagement, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described it as a consultation with the extended Senate leadership.
Less than 24 hours later, Tinubu convened a separate meeting with governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he formally empowered them to oversee the party’s primaries in line with the Electoral Act.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago disclosed that the President gave governors the go-ahead to conduct primaries using either consensus or direct voting.
He said, “We came to thank the President for his magnanimity and his support to the governors and for our party, the APC.
“He gave us a matching order on what to do for him, he has given and ceded his executive power to the governors to go ahead and conduct primaries based on the Electoral Act, either a consensus or direct primaries.
“So he has reiterated his support for our decision, and he has given us a go ahead.”
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq also confirmed that discussions focused on ensuring a transparent and rancour-free process that would strengthen the party ahead of the elections.
Tinubu’s stance aligns with earlier comments by APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, who emphasised that automatic tickets are not recognised under the party’s constitution or the Electoral Act, noting that performance—not incumbency—would determine re-election prospects.
Meanwhile, the APC has released a revised timetable for its 2027 primaries. House of Representatives primaries are scheduled for May 15, 2026, Senate primaries for May 18, governorship primaries for May 21, and the presidential primary for May 23.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
Tinubu’s decision is expected to significantly shape political alignments across states, with several lawmakers now facing uncertain re-election prospects amid growing influence from governors over party structures.