Fresh indications emerged over the weekend, that the Presidency has quietly endorsed automatic return tickets for a number of serving federal lawmakers under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Multiple party insiders familiar with ongoing consultations within the corridors of power, disclosed that the move is aimed at consolidating the party’s grip on the National Assembly, while rewarding loyalty, legislative experience and political stability.
A senior Presidency source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter, said those being considered include principal officers of the National Assembly, ranking senators and lawmakers regarded as “high-performing and dependable allies” of the administration.
According to the source, the list cuts across several states and geopolitical zones, reflecting what insiders described as an early strategy by the ruling party to avoid internal rancour and strengthen cohesion ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested 2027 electoral cycle.
Of the party’s men in the Senate, only 19 Senators have been confirmed and duly informed for automatic tickets, while a total of 102 members from the House of Representatives have also been confirmed with their names sent to the party’s National Chairman, Netanwe Yiwaltda for necessary approval.
Among the top lawmakers pencilled down for automatic return tickets are Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau; Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele; Abdulaziz Yari and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.
The source further revealed that the arrangement extends beyond the National Assembly leadership to senators and lawmakers considered loyal to both the party and the Presidency.
Those favoured for automatic senatorial return tickets include, Tokunbo Abiru and Sanni Eshinlokun from Lagos; Abdulfatai Buhari from Oyo North; Kawu Sumaila from Kano South; Aliyu Wamakko from Sokoto; Adamu Aliero and Abdullahi Yahaya from Kebbi.
Others named by the source are Mustapha Saliu and Oyelola Yisa Ashiru from Kwara; Yemi Adaramodu from Ekiti; Sunday Katung from Kaduna; Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua from Katsina State; Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (Niger East) and Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central).
Insiders said those names were arrived at, after wide consultations behind closed doors to identify strategic lawmakers whose return to the National Assembly is considered crucial to the party’s long-term legislative agenda.
He dismissed any suggestion that some of those given automatic tickets had served two or three terms or more, saying “Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North) had been In the National Assembly since 1999. served rwo terms in the House and has been in the Senate since 2007, serving as Senate President (2019–2023). And David Mark (Benue South) until recently, served from 1999 to 2019 (20 years). He was the President of the Senate from 2007 to 2015.
“Ali Ndume (Borno South) has been in the National Assembly since 2003, serving in both the House and Senate, making him one of the longest-serving lawmakers in the country”.
The source also hinted that some members of the House of Representatives are benefiting from similar arrangements, particularly those occupying strategic committee positions or considered influential within their states.
For the return tickets to some House of Representatives’ members, Niger and Oyo States have five members each already approved while some other states either have more or less than five, with those approved totalling 102 across the 36 States of the federation.
In Kwara State (APC), Representatives for automatic return tickets include Hon. Ismail Semo, Hon. Imam Ahmed Adekunle, Hon. Aweda Olatunde Emmanuel, Hon. Abubakar Fatima Jemeelah, and Hon. Olatunji Dare Emmanuel. For Kaduna State, the Reps favoured include the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, alongside Abdulkarim Ahmed, Abdullahi Ango, Aliyu Abdullahi, Amos Daniel, Jallo Mohammed, Mukhtar, Munir Mohammed, and Usman Zubairu. Also included from Kano State are Abubakar Kabir Abubakar and Hon. Sani Abdulraheem.
The list from Ondo State includes, Hon. Timehin Adelegbe and Hon. Festus Adefiranye, while that of Oyo State include Hon. Akin Alabi, Hon. Tajudeen Abisodun Were; Hon. Olamiju Alao-Akala, and Hon. Lafisoye Akinmoyede. Lagos State (APC). In Lagos, the beneficiary lawmakers Representatives include Hon. Babajide Obanikoro, Hon. Wale Raji, Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi, Hon. Oyewo Olanrewaju, Hon. Adewale Temitope, Hon. Ibrahim Ayokunle, and Hon. Taofeek Abiodun.
Interestingly, the Presidency is also said to be weighing the political future of some second-term APC governors who are quietly positioning themselves for senatorial seats after completing their constitutional tenure in office.
According to the insider, several governors have allegedly begun discreet consultations with power brokers within the party and the Presidency over possible transitions to the Senate in 2027.
“The thinking within the system is simple,” the source said. “The party wants tested hands, loyal party men and people who understand governance and legislative stability.
Many of them have stood firmly with the administration at critical moments.”
Political observers say the unfolding permutations signal that the battle for the 2027 elections may have started much earlier than expected, with strategic alignments already taking shape across the ruling party.
Supporters of the alleged plan argue that rewarding loyal and experienced lawmakers could strengthen governance continuity.
They argued that this development would help the President to consolidate on the gains of the Renewed Hope Agenda before and after the 2027 general elections.