Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially clarified that no politician who recently defected to the party — including sitting governors — will be automatically granted nomination tickets for the 2027 general elections. Party leadership emphasised that defection alone does not secure a candidacy, reaffirming its commitment to internal democracy and fairness.
According to officials, joining the APC does not guarantee an election ticket, even for high-profile leaders who have crossed over from other parties. Governors such as Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, and Agbu Kefas of Taraba State — all of whom have recently defected to the ruling party — must now contend in the APC’s established primary election process if they wish to be fielded as candidates. The same rule will also apply to Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, whose defection to the APC is widely anticipated but not yet official.
A member of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), speaking on condition of anonymity, explained that the party’s constitution and democratic ethos do not allow for automatic tickets for any aspirant based on status or timing of entry. “Joining the party does not automatically translate into a return ticket,” the official said, stressing that all members, irrespective of their profile, must compete and earn their tickets through the party’s primary elections.
Supporting this stance, APC Director of Publicity Bala Ibrahim reiterated that the party is committed to a level playing field, where all members are free to participate in the democratic process. He underscored that even President Bola Ahmad Tinubu would not be guaranteed an automatic ticket should he seek re-election in 2027, noting that the party had previously stated its intention to respect open competition.
The decision to rule out automatic tickets has been interpreted as an attempt by the APC leadership to manage internal expectations following a wave of high-profile defections from opposition ranks in recent months. Alongside Fubara, Umo Eno and Kefas, a number of Governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — including Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and Peter Mbah of Enugu — have crossed over to the APC, making party primaries a potential flashpoint as the 2027 elections draw near.
Opposition parties seized on the APC’s announcement to criticise the mass defections and signal possible political consequences. The PDP National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong, for example, argued that defecting governors would “soon realise” the APC’s internal dynamics and might regret leaving their former party, claiming that the ruling party’s promises of preferential treatment are unlikely to be honoured.
Nonetheless, APC officials maintain that party primaries and democratic contestation are foundational to its internal processes and that all aspirants, whether long-serving members or recent defectors, are subject to the same rules. This emphasis on competition and inclusivity is intended to strengthen party cohesion and guard against perceptions of bias or entitlement based on political stature.
As the election cycle advances, the ruling party’s position underscores a broader effort to balance welcoming new members with preserving internal democratic standards, ensuring that the nomination process remains open and competitive for all aspirants.
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