APC Rejects Automatic Tickets for 2027 Elections, Citing Electoral Law
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has definitively ruled out the granting of automatic tickets to its members in the National Assembly and other aspirants seeking elective offices ahead of the highly anticipated 2027 general elections. This significant announcement was made by APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, during a comprehensive media chat on Channels Television on Wednesday night, where he stressed that such a move would constitute a clear violation of both the Electoral Act and the party's own constitution.
Strict Adherence to Due Process Mandated
Yilwatda acknowledged that the party has received numerous requests from incumbent lawmakers seeking automatic return tickets but insisted that the APC will adhere strictly to due process. According to his detailed explanation, all aspirants must test their popularity and viability through either the direct primary system or a consensus arrangement, as explicitly provided by Nigerian law. The push for automatic tickets by some federal lawmakers and party loyalists is not a new phenomenon within the APC. Since the 2019 and 2023 election cycles, many incumbents have argued that granting them return tickets would help the party avoid costly and divisive primary contests, which in the past have triggered intense internal disputes, protracted litigations, and damaging defections.
Proponents of this arrangement also believe that incumbents, particularly legislators, already possess well-established political structures and robust grassroots networks that could give the party a decisive edge during general elections. However, critics within the party consistently warn that automatic tickets severely undermine internal democracy, effectively shut out new entrants and fresh perspectives, and often fuel deep resentment among grassroots members who feel systematically excluded from the candidate selection process. The APC leadership has repeatedly faced the delicate and complex task of balancing these competing interests, especially as the 2027 elections approach and intra-party competition intensifies dramatically across various states.
Consensus Candidacy and Electoral Confidence
Nevertheless, Yilwatda provided clarification that consensus candidacy would only be considered valid where all aspirants agree in writing and the process is duly ratified by party officials responsible for conducting the primaries. The APC chairman, who appeared alongside the party's National Secretary, Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, expressed strong confidence in the party's electoral prospects, noting that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has delivered significant infrastructure projects and impactful empowerment programmes across the country.
Addressing Defection Concerns in Kano
Yilwatda also addressed growing concerns over the recent defection of the former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a move that has stirred considerable anxiety within some APC circles about a possible erosion of its support base in the crucial North-West region. Kwankwaso, who is the influential leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, commands a loyal and extensive grassroots following, particularly among urban youth and rural voters in Kano and parts of the wider region. His formidable political structure has historically proven capable of swinging electoral outcomes, as vividly seen in previous contests in Kano.
The fear among some APC stakeholders is that his defection could consolidate opposition forces and fragment the ruling party's traditional vote base in Kano, which is one of Nigeria's most politically significant states by voter population. However, Yilwatda firmly dismissed such concerns, arguing that the APC's entrenched structures, backed by key political figures and incumbents like Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, his predecessors Abdullahi Umaru Ganduje, and Ibrahim Shekarau, remain strong enough to withstand any opposition surge spearheaded by Kwankwaso. He maintained that strategic alignments involving established APC stakeholders across Kano and neighbouring states would effectively neutralise any potential gains by Kwankwaso and his supporters.
Projected Dominance in Northern States
He further projected similar dominance for the APC in Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, and Kaduna states, attributing this optimistic outlook to what he described as markedly improved governance and sustained infrastructural development over the past three years under the current administration. This comprehensive stance underscores the APC's commitment to procedural integrity while navigating the complex political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
