President Bola Tinubu has reportedly rejected efforts by Senate leaders to secure automatic return tickets for incumbent lawmakers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to reports, Tinubu instead reaffirmed the influence of state governors in determining party candidates, effectively handing them control over the primaries process within their states.
The decision followed a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa involving top National Assembly figures, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
Sources familiar with the meeting said the lawmakers had sought assurances from the president to guarantee their return tickets, arguing that such a move would ensure stability and continuity within the legislature. However, Tinubu reportedly declined, stressing that governors remain the key power brokers in their respective states and must have the final say in candidate selection.
The stance is said to have heightened concerns among some federal lawmakers, particularly those with strained relationships with their state governors, as it leaves their political futures uncertain ahead of the party primaries.
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