Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the National Assembly have threatened to defect to opposition parties should they be denied tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The lawmakers, who spoke anonymously to The Leadership, are frustrated over hints that President Bola Tinubu had allegedly empowered governors of the party to dictate who gets nominated in their states.
They said the development had put many federal lawmakers at the mercy of governors, some of whom they said were drunk with power.
One of the lawmakers who confided in Leadership said it was disappointing that the President did not take steps to protect members of the APC-controlled National Assembly despite their support for his administration.
“Even after the support we have given the President, making Nigerians tag us as a rubber stamp, he could not protect us and reward us, leaving us at the mercy of the governors,” the lawmaker said.
Other APC lawmakers have said they will join opposition parties if denied the party’s tickets, insisting that their constituents will still vote them.
Some urged Tinubu to reconsider his position, saying lawmakers were still important to governance and his re-election bid.
As disastrous and disheartening as this is, it’s not too late for the President to change course. Another lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “He has pending requests before us and a full budget to present.
However, the Senate has given the debate on automatic tickets a new turn. Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, hinted at such arrangement during a stakeholders’ engagement, naming some senators that might benefit.
They include Adamu Aliero, Abdulaziz Yari, Orji Uzor Kalu and Opeyemi Bamidele.
Others are Yahaya Abdullahi, Abdullahi Yahaya Abubakar, Idiat Oluranti Adebule, Danjuma Goje and Adetokunbo Abiru
The lawmakers had played important roles in the stabilization of the National Assembly and in the strengthening of the relations between the executive and the legislative, Idris said.
There has been no confirmation from the Presidency or the leadership of the APC on the automatic ticket arrangement, but the development has continued to fuel debate within the ruling party.
