The Digest:
Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have stated that recently defected governors will not receive automatic tickets for the 2027 elections. APC National Working Committee member and the party’s Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, clarified that joining the party does not guarantee nomination, emphasizing that all aspirants must undergo a democratic primary process. The policy affects governors, including Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), and potentially Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano). Opposition parties PDP and NNPP described the defections as self-serving and predicted regret for the governors.
KEY POINTS
- This decision directly impacts political stability and governance focus in states where governors recently switched parties.
- It may discourage opportunistic defections, potentially reducing the frequency of cross-party movements ahead of elections.
- Long-term APC members benefit from a level playing field, while defecting governors risk losing both their previous and new party support.
- The stance reinforces internal democratic norms within the APC but also tests the party’s ability to manage high-profile entrants.
- With the 2027 election cycle approaching, this early clarification aims to manage expectations and reduce intra-party conflict.
Attention will now shift to how defecting governors navigate primary contests and whether the party’s commitment to open contests holds under political pressure.
Sources: Punch Newspapers, Vanguard
