There are indications that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) included account details in its latest revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections after initial attempts by governors of the party to hijack the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms.

It was alleged that the governors, under the auspices of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, made attempts at a bulk purchase of the expression of interest and nomination forms for the party’s forthcoming primary elections.

According to multiple sources, the party failed to publish the account details for the purchase of the forms in the first timetable and schedule of activities released for the 2027 general elections due to this pressure.

The APC governors reportedly planned to buy the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms in bulk for state elections and distribute them to aspirants of their choice, especially those seeking National Assembly offices. This, it was said, led to the inclusion of the party’s account numbers in the revised election timetable released on Monday.

This came against the backdrop of reports that President Bola Tinubu had empowered governors of the party to decide who gets its ticket to contest the 2027 general election.

However, the APC has now published the account details for aspirants seeking its ticket to contest the 2027 general elections to pay for their expression of interest and nomination forms.

This was contained in the party’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections published on Monday.

According to the revised schedule, the presidential primary election will now hold on 23 May, while that of governorship is slated for 20 May 2026.

State House of Assembly primary elections will also take place on 20 May; Senate primaries on 18 May; and House of Representatives primaries on 15 May 2026.

When contacted, the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, said he could not comment on the allegations.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Hon. Oguwike Nwachuku, Uzodimma assured APC aspirants of transparent and credible primaries in the states.

The governor said the party would uphold the highest standards of internal democracy and fair competition, urging aspirants to remain loyal and disciplined.

He encouraged aspirants to be sportsmanlike and to continue supporting the party regardless of the outcome of the primaries.

The Chief Press Secretary insisted he was speaking on behalf of Governor Uzodimma but could not respond to allegations of a planned bulk purchase of nomination forms by APC governors.

According to him, Uzodimma is a democrat and will always adhere strictly to democratic principles.

He stressed that the large number of aspirants reflects the rising popularity and acceptance of the party in the state, attributing this to what he described as the people-oriented policies and programmes of the administration.

He commended party members, National Assembly lawmakers, state legislators, and party officials for their continued support, adding that the APC had consolidated its position in the state.

He emphasised that transparent primaries and inclusive processes are the ingredients that strengthen internal cohesion within the system.

Equally, the APC National Working Committee (NWC) did not respond to enquiries about the allegations. The party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, and National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, did not respond to questions directed at them in this regard.

However, speaking with journalists in Abuja at the end of the NWC meeting last Thursday, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Duro Meseko, dismissed rumours that the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms were exclusively reserved for a few.

He stressed that the forms are open to all party members aspiring to elective positions.

“There was also a rumour that forms would be restricted or limited to certain individuals. I am here to inform all party faithful and aspirants that nomination forms for all aspirants seeking offices under the All Progressives Congress are open.

“Nomination forms are open to all members of the All Progressives Congress contesting elections,” Meseko added.

Federal lawmakers and automatic ticket saga

In a related development, there is growing discontent among some members of the APC in the National Assembly over indications that President Bola Tinubu had empowered governors of the party to decide who gets its ticket to contest the 2027 general elections.

The indication emerged last Thursday after a meeting between the President and APC governors under the auspices of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The meeting was attended by Imo State Governor and PGF chairman, Sen. Hope Uzodimma; Kwara State Governor and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq; Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya; and Prof. Babagana Zulum (Borno).

Others were Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia; Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji; Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago; and Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, among others.

Briefing journalists after the closed-door meeting, Governor Bago of Niger State disclosed that Tinubu had formally empowered governors to drive the primary process.

“We came to thank the President for his magnanimity and his support to the governors and our party, the APC.

“He gave us marching orders on what to do for him. He has ceded his executive power to the governors to go ahead and conduct primaries based on the Electoral Act, either through consensus or direct primaries. So, he has reiterated his support for our decision and given us the go-ahead,” Bago said.

This happened barely 24 hours after the National Assembly leadership under Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Abbas Tajudeen met President Tinubu to apparently seek automatic tickets for federal lawmakers.

Inside sources said that while the National Assembly leadership pleaded the case of its members, the President maintained that governors would have influence on who emerges as candidates of the party.

Recall that Speaker Abbas had appealed to President Tinubu and state governors to support the re-election of committed members of the National Assembly.

Abbas made the appeal in his remarks at the National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), held at Eagle Square, Abuja, late last month.

The Speaker lamented the high turnover of lawmakers, which he said comes at a cost to governance, lawmaking, and public resources spent on constant training and retraining.

However, in a recent nationwide television interview monitored by LEADERSHIP, the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, ruled out automatic tickets for all categories of aspirants for the 2027 general election.

Several legislators, particularly in the National Assembly, are uneasy over what they describe as a selective reward system that could jeopardise their chances of returning in 2027.

Many had believed that loyalty to the party and the President would guarantee them tickets.

Party insiders also point to a parallel development believed to have empowered state governors to take charge of candidate selection in their states—further complicating the prospects of some federal lawmakers, especially those with strained ties to their governors.

“There is serious anxiety,” a party source said. “Some lawmakers feel sidelined despite their contributions. The idea that a few will get automatic tickets while others face uncertain primaries is causing tension.”

The situation has triggered intense lobbying, as affected lawmakers engage governors and party leaders to secure their political future. Others are reportedly weighing alternative options, including possible defections if denied the party’s ticket.

Some lawmakers are afraid they could be frustrated out by their governors if they have influence over who emerges as party candidates; hence, the scramble for automatic tickets.

While, in some cases, second-term governors are eyeing the Senate after their tenure, there is a lack of trust between some lawmakers and their governors.

In Ondo State, for instance, it was learnt that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is not on good terms with some lawmakers, especially those who aligned with the late former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who worked against succession and re-election. Hence, he may seek their replacement.

Another example is in Benue State, where federal lawmakers aligned with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, are at loggerheads with Governor Alia. With presidential empowerment of governors, they may be edged out of APC tickets.

While many affected lawmakers are maintaining silence, some have voiced their frustration, though anonymously.

Some of them, who confided in LEADERSHIP, expressed shock that despite their cooperation with the APC-controlled National Assembly, they may not be protected or rewarded by the President, leaving them at the mercy of governors, many of whom they described as “power-intoxicated”.

“Even after the support we have given the President, making Nigerians tag us as rubber stamp, he could not protect and reward us, leaving us at the mercy of the governors,” one lawmaker said.

Other APC lawmakers said they would consider moving to opposition parties if denied tickets, believing their constituents would still vote for them.

Some appealed to the President to reconsider his position, saying he still needs lawmakers for governance and re-election, as they are popular in their constituencies and were instrumental in electing many governors.

“As devastating and disappointing as this is, it is not too late for the President to reconsider his decision. He has pending requests before us and a full budget to present,” a lawmaker said anonymously.

However, the issue of automatic tickets has taken a new twist in the Senate.

Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State hinted at such an arrangement during a stakeholders’ engagement, listing senators who may benefit. Those named include Adamu Aliero, Abdulaziz Yari, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Opeyemi Bamidele.

Others mentioned are Yahaya Abdullahi, Abdullahi Yahaya Abubakar, Idiat Oluranti Adebule, Danjuma Goje, and Adetokunbo Abiru.

Idris said the lawmakers had played key roles in stabilising the National Assembly and strengthening executive-legislative relations.

Although neither the Presidency nor the APC leadership has confirmed the automatic ticket plan, the development continues to generate debate.

Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti North), were unsuccessful, as he said he was busy and would respond later.

Faleke picks form for Tinubu

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has obtained the APC expression of interest and nomination forms to seek the party’s ticket for re-election in the 2027 polls.

The member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Hon. James Faleke, picked the N100 million forms on behalf of the President.

The APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori; Deputy National Chairman; National Vice Chairman (North Central), Mu’azu Bawa Rijau; National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu; National Woman Leader, Mary Alile; and Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, issued the forms to Faleke.

The lawmaker also picked forms for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s endorsed governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and himself for re-election to the Ikeja Federal Constituency seat.

APC fixed 23 May for the presidential primary election; 20 May for governorship and State House of Assembly primaries; 18 May for Senate primaries; and 15 May 2026 for House of Representatives primaries.

It pegged the expression of interest form for presidential aspirants at N30 million and the nomination form at N70 million. Governorship aspirants will pay N10 million for expression of interest and N40 million for nomination forms.

For the Senate, expression of interest is N3 million and nomination is N17 million; House of Representatives, N1 million and N9 million respectively; and State House of Assembly, N1 million and N5 million respectively.

Female aspirants, youths, and persons with disabilities are to pay 50 per cent of the prescribed nomination fees.

Addressing journalists, Faleke said he picked the forms for Tinubu as his representative in the House of Representatives and on behalf of all support groups.

He said the 2027 election would be a reality for President Tinubu and APC candidates, noting that opposition declarations are not a threat.

“I represent Ikeja Federal Constituency and, by the grace of God, I am the representative of Mr President in the House of Representatives. So, on behalf of all support groups, I have done so for Nigerians.

“There is no one particular person who has done this. It is on behalf of all Nigerians. As we did before the 2023 election, I was privileged to help purchase the form.

“By the grace of God, 2027 will be a reality. He will contest and he will win.

“I also picked forms for the incoming governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and mine for the House of Representatives. Everything is intact, and God is in charge,” he said.