President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly turned down a lobbying effort by senators seeking automatic return tickets for the next general elections, insisting that state governors retain decisive influence over candidate selection.
Lazeera News understands that the President met with the leadership of the Senate on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in what lawmakers described as an “emergency and strategic” engagement.
The delegation was led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and arrived shortly after the Senate adjourned plenary following a closed-door executive session.
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the meeting but did not disclose details. However, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said “far-reaching decisions” were taken.
He noted that the meeting deliberated on “matters of urgent national importance.”
Sources familiar with the meeting told Sahara Reporters the lawmakers used the opportunity to push for assurances that sitting senators would secure party tickets without internal contests.
A National Assembly source said, “The meeting was to plead for automatic tickets for senators but President Tinubu insisted that the governor of each state has the influence over candidates.
“They made a case for continuity and stability and argued for automatic tickets but the President was very clear in his response.”
According to the source, Tinubu rejected the proposal and reaffirmed the role of governors as key decision-makers in party structures.
“He told them plainly that governors are the leaders of the party in their states and must have a say on who gets the ticket,” the source disclosed.
