“Governors must decide” — Tinubu rejects Senators’ push for automatic tickets

President Bola Tinubu has reportedly turned down a lobbying effort by senators seeking automatic return tickets ahead of the next general elections, insisting that state governors retain decisive influence over candidate selection.

The position emerged after a closed-door meeting between the President and the extended leadership of the Senate at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday. The delegation was led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, shortly after lawmakers concluded an executive session.

Although official details of the meeting were not disclosed, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed the engagement, describing it as addressing “matters of urgent national importance.”

However, a senior National Assembly source familiar with the discussions said the lawmakers used the opportunity to seek assurances for automatic party tickets to secure their return to the Senate.

According to the source, the senators argued that such an arrangement would promote continuity and political stability ahead of the 2027 elections.

“The meeting was to plead for automatic tickets for senators, but President Tinubu insisted that governors in each state must retain influence over candidate selection,” the source said.

The President was said to have rejected the proposal, stressing that governors remain the leaders of party structures in their respective states and must play a central role in determining candidates.

“He told them plainly that governors are the leaders of the party in their states and must have a say on who gets the ticket,” the source added.

The outcome highlights ongoing internal power dynamics within party structures as political alignments begin to take shape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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