National News – President Bola Tinubu has rejected calls for automatic return tickets for All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers ahead of the 2027 elections, instead shifting decisive influence over primaries to state governors following high-level meetings in Abuja on Wednesday and Thursday.

The decision, made at the Presidential Villa, followed closed-door consultations with Senate leaders and APC governors, where the President insisted that candidate selection remains anchored in the Electoral Act through direct or consensus primaries.

The move affects sitting senators and House of Reps members seeking re-election in 2027.

Analysts say the development reinforces Nigeria’s evolving power balance within political parties, where governors remain dominant stakeholders in candidate emergence.

It also signals Tinubu’s attempt to enforce party discipline while avoiding accusations of imposing candidates ahead of 2027.

The process will proceed through scheduled primaries beginning May 2026, with screening and appeals already fixed by the APC and aligned with INEC timelines, setting up a tightly contested internal election season.

Party members and political observers in Lagos and Abuja described the move as a double-edged strategy—promoting internal democracy on one hand, while risking fresh factional disputes on the other, especially in states with strained governor–senator relationships.

The implication is a likely high turnover in the National Assembly, increased gubernatorial influence over federal candidates, and potential reshaping of APC’s legislative cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Political watchers note that the timing, just ahead of party primaries, could redefine loyalty structures within the APC, as governors consolidate influence while the presidency positions itself as arbiter rather than direct gatekeeper of candidacy decisions.

The coming months are expected to test party unity and determine the strength of Tinubu’s internal reform approach.