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2027: Panic In APC As Lawmakers Fear Mass Defections Over Return Tickets.
Major opposition parties are bracing for a wave of defections from the All Progressives Congress (APC) beginning in April.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
A report by The Sun indicates that the expected exodus may arise from the party primaries to be conducted across the 109 senatorial districts, 360 federal constituencies and 990 seats in the 36 State Houses of Assembly nationwide.
Following the removal of indirect primaries from the new Electoral Act, many lawmakers seeking return tickets fear that their state governors could frustrate their ambitions.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already unveiled a revised timetable for the 2027 general elections, including the schedule for party primaries.
Some serving members of both state and national assemblies who intend to seek re-election reportedly expressed concern that the recent defection of opposition governors to the APC poses a serious threat to their chances.
According to the lawmakers, who spoke anonymously, the governors who joined the ruling party are pushing to determine candidates for the next general elections without accommodating existing APC members.
A federal lawmaker from Delta State disclosed that part of the understanding reached between the defecting governors, the APC leadership and President Bola Tinubu was to allow the governors significant influence in selecting candidates for the forthcoming elections.
He alleged that some of the governors are reluctant to integrate long-standing APC members, preferring instead to field new aspirants, many of whom are drawn from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
To avoid being sidelined, some aggrieved APC members have reportedly opened discussions with the PDP, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Labour Party (LP) in a bid to secure alternative platforms and return tickets.
“Governors control party structures in their states. Most PDP governors have now moved to the APC with their loyalists. Agreements were reached with the APC leadership and President Tinubu to let them produce candidates for the next elections.
“Some of us are aware we may not get tickets. Our only option is to negotiate with the PDP, ADC or LP, leverage our popularity and hope to retain our seats,” one lawmaker said.
Meanwhile, the APC is said to be strategising to minimise defections by scheduling its National and State Assembly primaries close to the deadline set by INEC.
A party source revealed that if this plan succeeds, aspirants denied tickets may not have enough time to defect and secure nominations from opposition parties before the end of May.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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