Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s remarks, meant to comfort serving senators who lost tickets in the recently concluded party primaries, have caused anxiety among victorious aspirants ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The aspirants are worried that even if they win their primaries, the outcome could be changed in favour of the colleagues of the senate president who are incumbent senators.
Most of those raising concerns are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who fear Akpabio could use his clout within the party to secure tickets for some defeated lawmakers.
Akpabio, in his welcome address after the Senate resumed from a three-week recess, had told senators who could not secure their party tickets that the leadership of the National Assembly was still working to resolve the situation.
He congratulated successful lawmakers across party lines but lamented on the number of defeats recorded during the primaries.
“I congratulate the political parties, one or two of which have emanated from these chambers. They just finished their primaries and all their internal democratic processes. I extend my congratulations especially to those who have won their mandates to represent their parties to the next general elections.
“In this Senate we were promised we’d have very few disappointments. I do know the Senate Leader and the rest of the leadership are working very hard to address these issues. “So, in advance, congratulations to all of us, across party lines.”
After the remarks, Akpabio took senators into a closed-door executive session that lasted more than two hours.
Senators meet Tinubu, Akpabio
Daily Trust also learnt that Akpabio and other principal officers of the Senate had a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
Details of the meeting were not disclosed but insiders said the talks centered on possible options for some sitting senators who lost their primaries.
The Senate leadership had said before the recess that in a number of states lawmakers would be given automatic return tickets or consensus arrangements.
But only Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North-West) and Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) received automatic tickets.
The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, the three senators from Borno State and senators from Lagos State secured their return tickets through consensus arrangements.
40 Senators lose their tickets
According to the results announced by the party, 60 of the 105 incumbent senators were given return tickets while about 40 lost their bids.
Others who lost include Deputy Senate Leader Lola Ashiru, Jibrin Isah, Gbenga Daniel, Ned Nwoko, Abbas Aminu Iya, Kaila Samaila Dahuwa, Titus Zam, Emmanuel Udende, William Eteng Jonah, Neda Imasuen, Danjuma Goje, Francis Ezenwa, Musa Garba, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Olajide Ipinsagba, Olubiyi Fadeyi Oluwole, Diket Plang and Ipalibo Harry Banigo.
Some senators lost after running in their state’s primaries for governor.
They are Saliu Mustapha, Abdulfatai Buhari, Shehu Buba and Onawo Mohammed Ogoshi.
Some APC primaries winners have also raised concern over the delay in the issuance of Certificates of Return.
The delay could be part of efforts to manipulate the final list of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, they said.
An anonymous successful aspirant from Kwara State said those who defeated incumbent lawmakers were becoming increasingly suspicious.
She said, “We are now suspicious of the games played by the national leadership of the party, some of us who defeated incumbent legislators at both state and national levels.
“We were told that the President is coming in to manage any crisis that might come up after the final results are out. “We’ve been worried about that ever since.”
Another successful aspirant, from Gombe State, said Akpabio’s comments needed clarification.
We cannot comment on the statement now, it is not clear. We are trying to seek clarification before we react,” he said.
APC Aites Appeal Procedure
But party officials said the delay was consistent with established procedures.
The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the party’s primary guidelines stipulated the correct gathering of results and the settling of appeals before the winners are officially announced, said media aide Abimbola Tooki.
“The guidelines given for the conduct of the primaries were very clear and unambiguous. The results from the different levels were to be collated properly, the formal declaration of winners would only come after the appeal processes have been concluded,” Said Tooki.
He added aggrieved aspirants had the right to seek redress through party’s appeal mechanism.
But some aspirants argued that the delay had only further deepened fears that the outcome of the primaries could still be altered administratively.
They also observed that President Tinubu had been issued with his Certificate of Return immediately after winning the APC presidential primary, whereas many other winning aspirants were still waiting.
“The President has been given his Certificate of Return so why should the others be delayed? One candidate said: “The party should not give the impression that some candidates are more valid than others.”
Hon. Dr. Philip “Okanga” Agbese, a transformative leader in Enone. Discover his achievements, community projects, and vision for 2027
