A sudden policy shift by the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has triggered panic, uncertainty, and behind-the-scenes maneuvering among serving lawmakers, after the party ruled out automatic tickets ahead of the 2027 elections.
In what insiders describe as a political earthquake within the ruling party, National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, made it clear that no sitting member of the National Assembly will be guaranteed a return ticket.
“There is no automatic ticket,” he declared during a media chat in Abuja. “The party’s constitution does not provide for it, and neither does the Electoral Act.”
With that single pronouncement, a long-held expectation among many lawmakers—especially recent defectors—was abruptly shattered.
Instead, Yilwatda insisted that all aspirants must earn their place through consensus or party primaries, with performance now set as the defining م
“Those who have performed will be judged by the people and party members,” he said.
But the impact was immediate.
Across the APC, lawmakers are said to be scrambling, their political calculations thrown into disarray. For many, the assumption of a smooth return to office has given way to a harsh new reality: a battle for survival.
Particularly rattled are legislators who defected into the APC from opposition parties, many of whom had banked on political protection and guaranteed tickets.
Now, those expectations have collapsed.
Even more unsettling is the timing.
With the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 already in place—legislation many lawmakers supported—options for late political realignment appear limited, tightening the noose around those caught off guard.
“This changes everything,” a party insider said. “People who thought their tickets were secure are now fighting for relevance.”
While anxiety grips incumbents, a different mood is emerging among long-standing party loyalists and new aspirants.
For them, the decision has thrown open the gates.
After years in the shadows, many now see a rare opportunity to challenge sitting lawmakers in what promises to be fiercely contested primaries.
In several constituencies, there is growing talk of “payback time,” with grassroots actors accusing some lawmakers of neglecting their bases under the assumption of guaranteed tickets.
The immediate effect: a rush back to the constituencies.
Lawmakers are now expected to reconnect with stakeholders, rebuild alliances, and reassert their relevance in territories they may have taken for granted.
Behind the official justification of legality and internal democracy, however, party insiders hint at deeper political calculations.
There are increasing agitations for power rotation, generational shifts, and internal balancing—factors that could reshape candidate selection far beyond performance alone.
What is clear is that the era of entitlement within the APC may be ending.
And in its place, a more volatile, competitive, and unpredictable contest is emerging.
As 2027 approaches, one reality is sinking in fast: in the APC, no seat is safe anymore.