President Bola Tinubu has flatly rejected a behind-the-scenes lobby by senators seeking automatic return tickets ahead of the next general elections, instead reinforcing the dominance of state governors in deciding party candidates.
The decision emerged after an “emergency and strategic” meeting on Wednesday between the president and the extended leadership of the Senate at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The delegation, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, arrived at the State House shortly after plenary, following a closed-door executive session that reportedly set the stage for the high-level engagement.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed the meeting in a post on X, though he did not disclose its full details. A statement linked to the Senate leadership simply noted that “far-reaching decisions were taken at this strategic meeting, which deliberated on matters of urgent national importance.”
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele echoed the same line, saying “far-reaching decisions” were reached, but stopped short of revealing specifics.
“Far-reaching decisions were taken at this strategic meeting, which deliberated on matters of urgent national importance,” he stated.
However, insiders have now revealed what truly went down behind closed doors.
According to a National Assembly source, senators used the meeting to push for guaranteed party tickets that would allow them return to the Senate without facing internal primaries.
“The meeting was to plead for automatic tickets for senators but President Tinubu insisted that the governor of each state has the influence over candidates,” the Senate source said.
“They made a case for continuity and stability and argued for automatic tickets but the President was very clear in his response,” the source said.
Tinubu reportedly rejected the proposal outright, making it clear that governors remain the ultimate power brokers within party structures at the state level.
“He told them plainly that governors are the leaders of the party in their states and must have a say on who gets the ticket,” the source disclosed.
The development sets the stage for intense political battles ahead, as automatic tickets, long criticised for undermining internal democracy, appear off the table, leaving incumbents to fight their way through party primaries.
