President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rejected a request by members of the National Assembly seeking automatic return tickets ahead of the next general elections, insisting that state governors retain decisive influence over party nominations within their jurisdictions.
The proposal, reportedly presented during a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, sought to secure automatic re-election tickets for serving lawmakers without undergoing party primaries.
However, according to details of the meeting, the President firmly turned down the request, stressing that governors remain the key power brokers in their respective states and must continue to play a central role in determining who gets party tickets.
Sources familiar with the discussions, including reporting attributed to Sahara Reporters, said Tinubu made it clear that while continuity in governance is important, the authority over candidate selection at the state level rests with governors who control the party structure in their domains.
The lawmakers had argued that automatic tickets would promote stability in the legislature and preserve experience, but the President maintained his position, directing them to return to their constituencies and engage with state party leadership.
The stance effectively reinforces the traditional political arrangement within the ruling party, where governors wield significant influence over nominations and internal party decisions at the state level.
Political observers say the decision is expected to intensify early political manoeuvring ahead of the next election cycle, as lawmakers seeking re-election will now have to depend heavily on negotiations within state party structures rather than federal backing.
Post a Comment