By Obinna Uballa
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has firmly ruled out the possibility of automatic tickets for governors who recently defected to the ruling party or are planning to do so, declaring that all aspirants must earn their nominations through internal party processes.
The New Diplomat reports that the position comes amid intensifying jockeying for power within the APC, particularly in states where long-standing party members are already nursing governorship ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections. Party insiders say the development is a clear signal that defection into the APC does not confer special privileges, regardless of incumbency.
Governors affected by the position include Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, and Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, whose defection to the APC is said to be imminent.
In several of these states, entrenched party interests are already lining up against the governors’ second-term ambitions. In Rivers State, for instance, former governor and current FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Fubara’s estranged political godfather, has publicly vowed to block the governor’s return for a second term. Although Wike remains in PDP, he enjoys cordial relationship with President Bola Tinubu.
In Kano, the governorship ambition of Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin is believed to be a major factor delaying Yusuf’s planned defection to the APC. In Delta, multiple power blocs within the party are said to be positioning for the governorship ticket, potentially complicating Oborevwori’s re-election bid.
A member of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment officially, said the party’s constitution and internal democratic principles do not allow for automatic tickets, even for sitting governors.
According to the source, “Defection from another party does not translate into entitlement. Whether you are a governor or not, you must subject yourself to the party’s process. The APC has many loyal members who have been here for years, and the party cannot ignore them.”
The stance was reinforced by the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, who, in an interview with Punch Newspaper, described the party as democratic and progressive, insisting that equal rights would be guaranteed to all members.
“The issue of automatic tickets is not something that is on the table now – not for Kano, not for any other state, and not for anybody,” Ibrahim said. “The party has not decided on giving automatic tickets to governors or holders of elective office, even in the case of the President.”
He explained that while the APC leadership had passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu based on his performance, it did not amount to shutting out other aspirants.
“What the party said was that it would support the President if he decides to run in 2027, based on his performance. But it did not say that others would be prevented from contesting. If that position applies to the President, then it applies even more to governors,” Ibrahim added.
He stressed that the APC was committed to providing a level playing field for all aspirants, noting that consensus candidacy would only be considered where party members freely agreed.
“Everyone will be given their democratic right to contest. Where there is a need for consensus and consensus is reached, then the party may adopt that option to ensure a friction-free process,” he said.
Another NWC member also dismissed claims that recent defections were driven purely by re-election calculations, arguing that many politicians were attracted by what he described as President Tinubu’s achievements and the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I believe it is wrong to assume that people are defecting solely to secure re-election,” he said. “Many of those joining the APC are doing so because of the achievements of President Bola Tinubu across various sectors.”
However, he was emphatic that performance alone would not guarantee tickets.
“The party made it clear last year that even the President would not be handed an automatic ticket. The same principle applies to governors, whether they are old members or recent entrants like those in Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, and elsewhere,” he said.
“They must contest and earn their tickets through the party’s democratic process. If party members support them, they will emerge. But no one will be handed a ticket simply because they defected or because they are incumbents.”
The APC leadership in Kano State has already hinted that Governor Yusuf’s defection is imminent, but insiders say the unresolved ambitions of senior party figures, particularly Barau Jibrin, remain a major obstacle.
Beyond the governors, the ruling party has witnessed a steady influx of defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including National Assembly members, state lawmakers, former governors, ex-ministers and other party leaders. While many defectors cite ideological alignment or dissatisfaction with opposition parties, critics argue that political survival remains the primary motivation.
Reacting to the APC’s position, opposition parties said the development vindicated their long-held warnings to defecting governors.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, described the situation as “expected,” adding that the governors had abandoned the PDP for selfish reasons rather than the interest of their people.
“We said it before that their defection is not in the interest of Nigerians or even the people they govern,” Ememobong said in an exclusive interview. “It was purely driven by selfish motives.”
He added that the APC does not genuinely value its members and would eventually treat defectors as outsiders.
“This is only the beginning of their regret. Over time, they will realise that their influence within the APC is limited and that their expectations of preferential treatment will not be met,” he said.
According to a report by Punch, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) also said it was not surprised by the APC’s stance. Its National Publicity Secretary, Oladipo Johnson, said the party often lures politicians with promises that are rarely fulfilled.
“Even before now, I asked some of the governor’s aides in Kano: what is the guarantee that you will secure a second-term ticket from the party you are joining?” Johnson said.
“As usual with the APC, they lure you in, and once you are in, the ground rules change. By the time you realise what is happening, it becomes difficult to exit.”
He warned that such situations often leave defecting governors politically frustrated, with ambitions constrained by internal party realities.
Attempts to reach the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, were unsuccessful, as his phone was switched off as of press time.
