Moses Adeniyi
President Bola Tinubu has intensified high-level political consultations with federal lawmakers, meeting behind closed doors with Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and select members of the House of Representatives at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in what insiders describe as part of early manoeuvres shaping the 2027 general elections.
The meeting, held shortly after Jummah prayers at the State House Mosque on Friday, was not listed on the President’s official schedule, underscoring its strategic and discreet nature. Among those present was the House Chief Whip, Usman Kumo, alongside other ranking lawmakers of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Although details of the discussions remain undisclosed, multiple Villa sources confirmed that the engagement forms part of a series of consultations between the President and key political stakeholders amid rising tensions over party nominations and re-election ambitions.
Power Play Over 2027 Tickets
The meeting comes barely 48 hours after President Tinubu held a similar session with Senate leadership, signalling a coordinated outreach to the National Assembly. These engagements follow his recent decision to reject proposals for automatic return tickets for serving senators—a move that has stirred unease within legislative ranks.
Instead, the President has reportedly delegated significant authority to state governors to oversee party primaries, in accordance with Nigeria’s Electoral Act. This shift effectively places the political future of many federal lawmakers in the hands of state-level party structures, a development that could reshape alliances within the APC.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, confirmed the directive after a separate meeting with the President, stating that governors have been given a “matching order” to conduct primaries through consensus or direct voting methods.
Strategic Calculations and Internal Realignments
Political observers interpret the sequence of meetings—spanning senators, representatives, and governors—as a calculated effort by Tinubu to consolidate influence ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested 2027 election cycle.
By resisting automatic tickets, the President appears to be reinforcing internal party democracy while simultaneously strengthening the role of governors as power brokers. However, critics argue that the move may deepen intra-party rivalries and trigger intense lobbying among aspirants seeking endorsements at the state level.
With the APC already fixing 15 May 2026 for its House of Representatives primaries and the sale of nomination forms underway, the race for party tickets has effectively begun. Lawmakers, many of whom had hoped for smoother paths to renomination, now face a more uncertain and competitive political landscape.
What This Means
The closed-door meeting with House leaders signals more than routine consultation—it reflects the early contours of a broader political recalibration within Nigeria’s ruling party. As Tinubu navigates competing interests between governors and federal legislators, the balance of power within the APC may be quietly but significantly shifting.
For now, the silence surrounding the Villa discussions only adds to speculation: are lawmakers seeking assurances, negotiating influence, or bracing for a tougher political battle ahead?
What is clear, however, is that the road to 2027 has begun in earnest—and the stakes within the APC have never been higher.