…Govs, Lawmakers Clash Over Control Of 188 Return Bids
…Tinubu-Backed Plan Sparks Fresh Power Struggle Ahead 2027
Daud Olatunji
Fresh tension is brewing within the ruling All Progressives Congress (AlPC) as governors and federal lawmakers clash over moves to secure automatic return tickets for 188 serving members of the National Assembly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Party insiders said the development has triggered a quiet but growing power struggle in some APC-controlled states, including Ogun, Ondo and Benue, where state governors are reportedly at odds with influential lawmakers over control of nomination processes.
Findings indicate that the arrangement, if finalised, will see 48 senators and 140 members of the House of Representatives retain their seats in what party leaders describe as a major consolidation strategy aimed at stabilising the legislature.
Highly placed sources within the APC National Working Committee (NWC) said the plan is part of a wider political design to reduce the high turnover of lawmakers and strengthen institutional continuity in the National Assembly.
According to the sources, governors of affected states have already been discreetly briefed on the arrangement, though some are said to be resisting aspects of the proposal, particularly where it conflicts with their preferred aspirants.
The lawmakers reportedly benefiting from the automatic return arrangement were said to have been recommended by the leadership of the National Assembly, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that although the final list has not been made public, party sources said the South-West and South-South geopolitical zones account for the highest number of expected returnees, a development already generating political unease in some state chapters.
The move follows a series of consultations between President Bola Tinubu and APC federal lawmakers at the Presidential Villa, where discussions reportedly centred on party cohesion, legislative stability and governance coordination ahead of the next electoral cycle.
A senior APC official said the decision was driven by concerns over frequent turnover in the National Assembly, which, according to him, has weakened legislative experience and slowed policy continuity.
“One of the challenges has been the constant change of lawmakers, which affects legislative stability,” the official said.
“The idea is to retain experienced legislators who can support effective governance and policy continuity.”
He, however, stressed that the arrangement was not intended to undermine internal democracy, but to strengthen synergy between the executive and legislature.
Despite these explanations, the development has sparked quiet tension in some APC-controlled states, particularly Ogun, Ondo and Benue, where governors and federal lawmakers are reportedly engaged in behind-the-scenes rivalry over control of party tickets.
Sources said while some governors are insisting on maintaining dominance over state-level nominations, lawmakers benefiting from the arrangement are relying on backing from national party structures to secure their return.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had earlier confirmed consultations between the presidency and National Assembly leadership, describing the engagements as part of ongoing political consultations ahead of 2027.
Party stakeholders said the unfolding arrangement reflects a broader recalibration within the APC as it seeks to balance loyalty, performance and political interests ahead of a critical election cycle.
While the official list of endorsed lawmakers is yet to be released, insiders insist that most of the 188 legislators pencilled down are unlikely to face serious opposition at the primaries, despite rising unease in some state chapters of the party.
