Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s comments, meant to reassure serving senators who lost tickets in the recently concluded party primaries, have created anxiety among victorious aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The aspirants fear that despite winning their primaries, the outcome could still be changed in favour of incumbent senators who are colleagues of the Senate President.
Most of those raising concerns are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who suspect Akpabio could use his influence within the party to secure tickets for some defeated lawmakers.
In his welcome address after the Senate resumed from a three-week recess, Akpabio had told senators that could not get their party tickets that the leadership of the National Assembly was still working to address the situation.
He congratulated successful lawmakers across party lines but lamented on the number of defeats recorded during the primaries.
“I congratulate the political parties, one or two of which have emanated from these chambers. They recently finished their primaries and all the internal democratic processes. I extend my congratulations, especially to those who have earned their mandates to represent their parties in the next general election.
“In this Senate, we were promised we would have very few disappointments. I do know the Senate Leader and the rest of the leadership are working very hard to address these issues. So, ahead of time, I say congratulations to all of us across party lines.”
After the remarks, Akpabio led senators into a closed-door executive session that lasted over two hours.
Senators Meet Tinubu, Akpabio
Daily Trust also learnt that Akpabio and other principal officers of the Senate met with President Bola Tinubu.
While details of the meeting were not made public, insiders said the discussions centred on possible options for some serving senators who lost their primaries.
The leadership had told senators before the Senate went on recess that in many states, lawmakers would be provided with automatic return tickets or consensus arrangements.
But only Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North-West) and Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) received automatic tickets.
The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, the three senators from Borno State and senators from Lagos State secured their return tickets through consensus arrangements.
40 Senators lose their tickets
Based on results announced by the party, 60 of the 105 senators in office were granted return tickets while about 40 lost their bids.
Others who lost include Deputy Senate Leader Lola Ashiru, Jibrin Isah, Gbenga Daniel, Ned Nwoko, Abbas Aminu Iya, Kaila Samaila Dahuwa, Titus Zam, Emmanuel Udende, William Eteng Jonah, Neda Imasuen, Danjuma Goje, Francis Ezenwa, Musa Garba, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Olajide Ipinsagba, Olubiyi Fadeyi Oluwole, Diket Plang and Ipalibo Harry Banigo.
Some senators also lost after running in their state’s governorship primaries.
They are Saliu Mustapha, Abdulfatai Buhari, Shehu Buba and Onawo Mohammed Ogoshi.
Some APC primaries winners have also expressed worry over the delay in issuing Certificates of Return.
They claimed the delay may be part of efforts to manipulate the final list of candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
An anonymous successful aspirant from Kwara State said those who defeated incumbent lawmakers were becoming increasingly suspicious.
“We are now suspicious of the games being played by the national leadership of the party, some of us who defeated incumbent legislators at both the state and national levels,” she said.
“We were told that the President is coming in to manage any crisis that might come up after the final results are out. Ever since then we have been worried.”
Another successful aspirant, from Gombe State, said Akpabio’s comments needed clarification.
“We cannot comment on the statement now, it is not clear. We are trying to seek clarification before we react,” he said.
APC Aites Appeal Procedure
But party officials said the delay was in accordance with established procedures.
In a statement by his media aide, Abimbola Tooki, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda said the party’s primary guidelines provided for proper collation of results and resolution of appeals before winners are formally declared.
“The guidelines given for the conduct of the primaries were very clear and unambiguous. Results from the different levels were to be collated appropriately, the formal declaration of winners would only come after the appeal processes have been concluded,” Said Tooki.
He added aggrieved aspirants had the right to seek redress through party’s appeal mechanism.
But some aspirants argued that the delay had only further deepened fears that the outcome of the primaries could still be altered administratively.
They also observed that President Tinubu had already been issued his Certificate of Return after winning the APC presidential primary, while many other winning aspirants were still waiting.
“The President has already been given his Certificate of Return, so why are the others being delayed? One candidate said: “The party should not give the impression that some candidates are more valid than others.”
