Senate President Godswill Akpabio has disclosed that the Senate leadership is working to secure return tickets for some lawmakers who lost party primaries, triggering mixed reactions from Nigerians online.
Akpabio's Statement on Return Tickets
Akpabio made the disclosure on Tuesday during plenary as lawmakers resumed from a four-week recess that allowed them to participate in their various party primaries. While congratulating senators who successfully secured their parties' tickets, the Senate President acknowledged that many lawmakers suffered political setbacks during the exercise. He said the Senate leadership was surprised by the number of senators who failed to emerge from the primaries and was exploring ways to address the situation.
"I know that there will always be victories and disappointments," Akpabio said, adding that the Senate leadership was working hard to ensure there would be "very few disappointments" among lawmakers across party lines.
Impact on Senators
Reports indicate that about 40 serving senators from different political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), failed to secure return tickets during the primaries. Among the prominent lawmakers reported to have lost their bids are Senators Ned Nwoko, Gbenga Daniel, Danjuma Goje, Rufai Hanga, Neda Imasuen and Jubril Isah.
Public Reactions
Akpabio's comments quickly generated reactions online, with many Nigerians questioning whether party primary outcomes should be revisited after candidates had already emerged through internal party processes. One social media user wrote, "Wait, you mean the electoral laws do not apply to them anymore? What kind of country is this?" Another user suggested the move could be linked to recent debates around electoral reforms, writing, "Because they threatened to also push for mandatory electronic transmission of votes!" Others argued that political parties should respect the outcomes of their primaries and allow democratic processes to run their course without interference.
Context and Implications
The comments come amid growing discussions over the conduct of party primaries and the implementation of electoral regulations ahead of the 2027 elections. Although Akpabio did not explain the exact mechanism through which the affected senators could regain their tickets, his remarks have fueled speculation about possible negotiations, reconciliations, substitutions or internal party interventions. Political parties are expected to submit the names of their candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the conclusion of their nomination processes.
As reactions continue to trail the Senate President's remarks, attention is likely to remain on whether any of the senators who lost their primaries eventually find their way back onto their parties' tickets before the next general election.
