All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders have ruled out the granting of automatic tickets to governors and members who recently defected to the ruling party or are expected to do so ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that all aspirants must emerge through the party’s internal democratic process.
Governors affected by the decision include Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, and Abba Kabir Yusuf, whose defection to the APC is believed to be imminent.
A member of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), who spoke on condition of anonymity, said defection from another political party does not confer any automatic advantage in the APC’s nomination process.
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“Joining the APC does not translate into automatic tickets,” the source said. “Every member, regardless of status or when they joined the party, must go through the same democratic process.”
Corroborating this position, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the party remains committed to internal democracy and equal opportunity for all members.
“The APC is a progressive and democratic party. Every member has the right to aspire to any position, but no one will be imposed or handed a ticket simply because they defected or currently hold office,” Ibrahim said in an interview.
Several governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the APC in recent months. They include Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, alongside Eno, Kefas and Fubara. In addition, dozens of federal and state lawmakers, former governors and former ministers have also crossed over to the ruling party.
While defectors have cited ideological alignment and national interest as reasons for joining the APC, critics argue that many are motivated primarily by the desire to secure re-election.
Responding to such claims, another NWC member said the wave of defections reflects confidence in the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda, rather than electoral calculations.
“It is wrong to assume that people are defecting solely to secure re-election,” the official said. “Many are joining because of the President’s achievements. However, even President Tinubu himself is not guaranteed an automatic ticket. The party has made it clear that all contests will be open.”
According to the official, the same standard applies to governors, whether long-standing APC members or recent entrants.
“There will be no automatic tickets for any governor. They must earn their mandate through the party’s democratic structures. Their performance in office will matter, but ultimately, party members will decide,” he said.
Reacting, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the decision confirmed the party’s long-held position that defecting governors would face disappointment in the APC.
“They abandoned the PDP for selfish reasons,” Ememobong said. “The APC does not truly value its members, and this is just the beginning of their regret.”
Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Oladipo Johnson, said the development was unsurprising.
“The APC is known for luring politicians with promises that are rarely fulfilled,” he said. “Once they are inside, they discover there are no guarantees. This often leaves them frustrated and politically constrained.”
Despite the criticisms, the APC leadership insists the party will continue to expand its membership while maintaining fairness and internal democracy.
“As a party, we will respect all members and ensure equal opportunity,” an APC official said. “But no one will be handed a ticket simply because of their office or their defection.”
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