President Bola Tinubu has pushed back against behind-the-scenes efforts by senators seeking automatic tickets for the next elections, making it clear he’s not on board with the idea.
According to reports, the issue came up during a meeting on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where Tinubu sat down with top members of the Senate shortly after their closed-door session.
Lawmakers described the gathering as urgent and strategic, though they kept most details under wraps.
The delegation was led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who arrived at the Villa with other senior lawmakers following deliberations earlier in the day.
While officials publicly avoided specifics, a source familiar with the meeting said the real agenda was straightforward: senators wanted assurance they wouldn’t have to fight for their tickets again ahead of the next elections.
But Tinubu didn’t agree.
According to the source, the president stood his ground, insisting that governors must remain in control of candidate selection in their states.
In his view, they are the political leaders at that level and should decide who flies the party’s flag.
The senators, the source said, argued that granting automatic tickets would help maintain stability and continuity in the legislature. Still, Tinubu wasn’t convinced.
“He made it clear that governors have the final say when it comes to candidates,” the source explained.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele later confirmed that the meeting addressed “important national issues,” but didn’t go into detail.
Similarly, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga acknowledged the meeting but offered no insight into what was discussed.
The debate over automatic tickets isn’t new in Nigerian politics.
Supporters say it helps lawmakers build experience and keeps things stable.
Critics, however, argue that it shuts out competition and weakens internal democracy within parties.
For now, Tinubu appears firmly in the latter camp at least when it comes to letting senators skip the usual political contest.
