Gale of defections: Recent unease in APC over computerized tickets
As preparations for the 2027 elections collect momentum, a contemporary disaster of curiosity seems to be unfolding inside the ruling All Progressives Congress over computerized tickets for these aspiring to contest within the polls.
Findings by THE POINT revealed that there’s a silent friction between some prime members of the occasion who’ve been nursing governorship and Nationwide Meeting ambitions and a few governors and federal lawmakers who simply defected to the APC.
That is regardless of assurances by some leaders of the occasion that decampees, particularly governors, don’t have anything to fret about.
“THE FACT REMAINS THAT AS A PARTY, WE HAVE RESOLVED NOT TO GIVE AUTOMATIC TICKET TO ANY ASPIRANT, BOTH OLD AND DEFECTING POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDERS.”
Lots of those that spoke in favour of previous occasion members mentioned it could be a critical type of injustice ought to those that lately joined the APC be allowed to get computerized second-term tickets on the expense of those that had labored for the occasion and had been ready to take their pictures at political workplaces in 2027.
A prime chieftain of the occasion who didn’t need to be named informed THE POINT that many incumbent governors and Nationwide Meeting members, particularly latest defectors, won’t get computerized tickets regardless of assurances.
“I can’t say a lot for now, however the reality stays that as a celebration, now we have resolved to not give computerized ticket to any aspirant, each previous and defecting political workplace holders.
“I believe that’s the greatest thought as a result of will probably be a grave injustice for a few of us who’ve labored tirelessly for the occasion to be sidelined and those that simply decamped to be handed the occasion tickets identical to that,” the occasion chieftain mentioned.
“THE BEST APPROACH IS FOR OUR PARTY, THE APC, TO COME CLEAN ON THE FATE OF THOSE WHO JUST JOINED THE PARTY.”
Additionally expressing identical concern, one other outstanding determine within the ruling occasion, who spoke with THE POINT in confidence, suggested the APC management to come back clear on the plans it had for its new entrants who had been nursing second-term ambitions.
“The very best method is for our occasion, the APC, to come back clear on the destiny of those that simply joined the occasion.
If there was any Bargain our leaders had established with our defectors, they need to let the previous members know to keep away from collision of pursuits,” he suggested.
In the meantime, many Nigerians proceed to demand better transparency from the ruling APC relating to the issuance of “computerized tickets” for incumbent candidates.
Whereas some chieftains have mentioned clearly that there will likely be no computerized tickets for anybody in an effort to strengthen inside democracy by aggressive primaries, others have assured crucial stakeholders, notably defecting governors, that nobody would contest towards them within the primaries.
Moreover, the APC has drawn criticism over coverage inconsistencies in regards to the issuance of computerized tickets to incumbents.
And regardless of official denials, analysts level to a deepening rift inside the APC.
The friction stems from calls for by governors and legislators for computerized 2027 return tickets, a transfer the Nationwide Working Committee has but to totally endorse.
Some APC stakeholders predict that the occasion will win the 2027 normal elections, bolstered by a major inflow of former opposition governors.
Nonetheless, there’s a lingering apprehension that the choice course of for the presidential flag-bearer and different candidates may set off disaster if not managed correctly.
Citing President Bola Tinubu’s political expertise and interesting management qualities, many APC loyalists have already adopted him because the occasion’s consensus candidate with an computerized ticket for the following election.
Numerous state and zonal chapters of the APC, alongside the governors elected underneath the occasion’s banner, have formally endorsed the President as the only real candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
There may be, nonetheless, an obvious disaffection within the occasion, as some disgruntled members argue that the occasion can not, on the one hand, endorse Tinubu and, on the opposite, declare that the taking part in subject stays open to each contender within the spirit of truthful play.
Observers and anxious stakeholders alike have mentioned that if the APC needs Nigerians to take it significantly, it should throw the primaries open to all comers and present impartiality.
Those that shared their views reminded the APC to not neglect the remarks made by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, relating to the occasion’s inside politics.
Recall that El-Rufai, previous to his defection from the APC practically a 12 months in the past, accused the occasion of missing inside democracy.
At the moment, he expressed frustration that no occasion organ had met in two years and famously described the APC as a “one-man present” — and later, a “zero-man present.”
Following El-Rufai’s criticisms of the APC, varied regional, state, and zonal chapters of the APC — together with all APC governors and Nationwide Meeting members — unanimously endorsed President Tinubu because the occasion’s sole candidate for the 2027 elections.
Probably the most important endorsement got here barely two years into the President’s administration because the APC held its Nationwide Summit on the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
On the occasion, the APC governors, led by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Discussion board and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, alongside Nationwide Meeting members led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Nationwide Working Committee, and zonal leaders, endorsed President Tinubu because the occasion’s sole presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
Following the preliminary endorsement, varied APC state chapters started to formalise assist not just for the President’s re-election but in addition for incumbent governors and Nationwide Meeting members.
When the APC within the North West adopted Tinubu in Could 2025 as its solely most well-liked candidate, stakeholders additionally pledged assist for incumbent APC governors within the zone looking for a second time period within the 2027 elections.
The Speaker of the Home of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who represents the North West, moved a vote of confidence in President Tinubu on behalf of the zone’s APC stakeholders. He cited the President’s progressive governance, enhancing management, and unwavering assist for the area’s socio-economic growth.
As anticipated, the regional governors had been supplied computerized tickets, regardless of claims that a few of them have carried out under expectations.
Equally, through the APC South-South stakeholders’ assembly in Benin Metropolis, Edo State, final July, President Tinubu and three governors from the zone had been adopted as the only real candidates for the final elections.
The Governors are Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), and Bassey Otu (Cross River).
The APC had, final August, introduced that its 2027 presidential ticket can be open to all candidates, however the earlier endorsement of Tinubu.
The ruling occasion clarified that different occasion members within the presidency had been free to contest for the ticket through the primaries.
The APC’s Nationwide Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, mentioned, “We will certainly not shut our doorways on different presidential aspirants. When the time comes, our timetable will likely be made identified.
“Anyone who needs to aspire for the presidency underneath the APC won’t be denied the chance to buy the expression of curiosity and nomination varieties to train their franchise.
“We by no means mentioned we had locked the door. We’re solely telling those who we recognize what the President is doing for the individuals of the nation and that he deserves a second time period in workplace once we roundly endorsed him lately.”
The APC has additionally controversially said this 12 months that it’s going to not grant computerized tickets to governors who lately defected to the occasion.
An unauthorised member of the APC Nationwide Working Committee defined anonymously that becoming a member of the occasion from one other political platform carries no assure of an computerized ticket.
Supporting this place, Bala Ibrahim, the APC’s Director of Data and Publicity, reportedly described the ruling occasion as democratic and progressive, emphasising that each one members can be allowed to totally train and luxuriate in their rights.
Regardless of the occasion’s ‘progressive’ method, many analysts are questioning the destiny of Governors Abba Yusuf (Kano) and Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), who lately defected to the APC.
Although they had been allegedly promised second-term tickets for becoming a member of the ruling occasion, insiders counsel these ensures stay unsure because of native political opposition.
Nigerians at the moment are carefully monitoring the APC to see how the occasion will accommodate members with electoral ambitions forward of the final elections, particularly given allegations that some had been promised computerized tickets to affix the occasion.
For eager political observers, APC could also be in for a critical inside rancour if the technique shouldn’t be dealt with fastidiously.
In response to them, of their separate interviews, belief points amongst previous and newly defected members of the occasion and lack of readability on the plan of the occasion management might implode APC.
An Anambra-based political analyst, Damion Ugorji, informed The Level that there can be “lots drama” within the APC regarding computerized tickets for incumbents.
He famous, nonetheless, that the occasion’s “stabiliser” was President Tinubu.
Ugorji mentioned, “What is occurring now within the APC is delicate. Governors have come to the occasion hoping to get computerized tickets, and there may be a lot uncertainty about their future.
“What is occurring now additionally has the potential to make the APC implode. So, there will likely be lots drama within the occasion. Nigerians ought to be prepared for it.
“You shouldn’t make guarantees to individuals to affix you and once they do, you don’t know what to do with them. The APC ought to thank their stars that they’ve Tinubu who’s the occasion’s stabiliser.
“You simply can not make guarantees to individuals to affix you, just for them to search out you don’t know what to do with them as soon as they do. The APC ought to thank their stars that they’ve Tinubu because the occasion’s stabiliser.
“I do know that the APC had prior to now confirmed that the primaries can be open to all, however I believe it’s excessive time the occasion talked about the names of the lately defected governors and allow them to know the place they stand.”
A present affairs analyst, Maxwell Igwe, mentioned that belief points may emerge within the APC if the occasion did not deal with the issues associated to computerized tickets correctly.
In response to Igwe, a ‘large occasion’ just like the APC ought to have already settled how its elected officers will likely be accommodated in 2027.
He mentioned, “I noticed elected officers within the APC endorsing Tinubu and themselves, and I’m wondering who gave them permission to take action within the first place. It exhibits that there’s a elementary drawback with the occasion and that some members don’t have their priorities straight.
“My largest concern for the APC is that belief points may emerge within the occasion if the state of affairs shouldn’t be correctly dealt with.
“Some individuals have mentioned that the occasion management has denied granting computerized tickets to Nationwide Meeting members or governors who lately defected to the occasion.
“Does that imply solely those that have been with the occasion for lengthy will likely be granted computerized tickets? The occasion wants to offer extra clarification as a result of the state of affairs shouldn’t be clear.
“With solely months remaining till the primaries, it’s shocking to me that the trail ahead for incumbents looking for re-election stays unsure and precarious in a giant occasion just like the APC.”