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Top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have ruled out the granting of automatic tickets to governors, including Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who joined the party recently, as well as Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who is expected to join soon.

A member of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the issue, explained that defection from another political party to the APC does not guarantee an automatic ticket.

Supporting this position, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, described the ruling party as democratic and progressive, stressing that all members would be allowed to fully enjoy and exercise their rights.

Reacting, the National Publicity Secretaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ini Ememobong, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Oladipo Johnson, said the development was expected, adding that the governors involved had made the wrong decisions.

Among the PDP governors who have defected to the APC are Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State (South-South), Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State (South-South), Peter Mbah of Enugu State (South-East), Agbu Kefas of Taraba State (North-East), and, most recently, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State (South-South).

The APC leadership in Kano State has also indicated that the defection of the state governor is imminent.

Beyond the governors, several other prominent politicians—including members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, as well as former governors, former ministers, and other party leaders—have also defected from the PDP to the APC.

Although the defectors have given various reasons for joining the ruling party, some Nigerians argue that the real motive is to secure re-election to their respective offices.

Reacting, a member of the APC National Working Committee said the defections were driven by President Bola Tinubu’s numerous achievements, noting that it would ultimately be up to the people to decide on their re-election.

He said, “I believe it is wrong to assume that people are defecting solely to secure re-election. Many of those joining the All Progressives Congress are doing so because of the achievements of President Bola Tinubu and the Renewed Hope Agenda, which is delivering positive results across various aspects of national life.

“That said, it is important to recall that the APC, sometime last year, clearly stated its position and made it known that even the President would not be granted an automatic ticket, despite enjoying overwhelming support from the National Working Committee, members of the NEC, zonal leadership, and governors who have publicly declared their support should he choose to run again. However, this does not limit the contest solely to President Tinubu. The party has made it clear that the process will be open to any Nigerian who is a member of the APC and wishes to contest for the office of President.

“This same principle applies to all governors, whether they have been long-standing members of the party or recent entrants, including the governors of Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers states, and others. There will be no automatic tickets for any of them. They must contest and earn their tickets through the party’s democratic process. Their achievements in their respective states will be a major factor, as it is the party members who will ultimately decide who flies the APC flag.

“If party members support them and they emerge successful in the process, they become the party’s candidates. However, the APC will not arbitrarily hand over tickets to anyone simply because they are governors or because they defected to the party. That is not the party’s position or intention.

“Presently, the party continues to expand its membership, with new members joining almost daily. As such, all members will be given equal opportunity to aspire to any position. Ultimately, it is the party’s membership that will determine who emerges as candidates and, together with Nigerians at large, decide who governs at the state and national levels. As a party, we will continue to support our governors in appropriate ways, respect all members, and ensure that they enjoy their rights and privileges while fully participating in every stage of this democratic journey.”

Speaking further, the Director of Publicity, in another exclusive interview with The PUNCH, stated that automatic tickets are not being considered for any governor or holder of elective office.

Ibrahim added that the APC leadership is committed to ensuring a level playing field for all aspirants, irrespective of their status.

He said, “The issue of automatic tickets is not something that is on the table now, not just for Kano but for anybody. The party has not decided on giving anybody an automatic ticket, even in the case of the President.

“What the party said it would do, and did, was to give him a vote of confidence, in the event that he decides to enter the race for 2027 based on his performance. The party will support him, but it did not say it would stop other people from indicating interest or contesting alongside him.

“So they will be given their democratic right to contest. Now, if that position is true for the President, what about any other person below the President? The party has not looked into the issue of giving automatic tickets to governors and others. What the party has done, and still stands by, is that it will give a level playing field to everyone, regardless of status. Everyone will be given equal rights to contest.

“Where there is a need for consensus and consensus is reached, then the party will go for that option in order to have a friction-free election.”

Attempts to reach the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, for comments were unsuccessful, as his phone was switched off as of press time.

Reacting, the PDP Publicity Secretary said their regret was only beginning, adding that many of them would end up disappointed in the APC.

Ememobong, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, said they abandoned the PDP for selfish reasons rather than in the interest of their people.

He said, “We have said it before that their defection is not in the interest of Nigerians or even the people they govern in their respective states. The move was purely driven by selfish motives.

“We also know that the APC is not a party that truly values its members, so this outcome was expected. We saw it coming, and this is only the beginning of their regret. The APC will continue to treat them as outsiders, and that is simply the reality.

“Over time, they will realise that their influence within the party is limited and their expectations of preferential treatment will not be met. Their constituents, too, may begin to question their decisions, seeing the long-term consequences of abandoning the party that initially supported them.”

The NNPP Publicity Secretary said they were not surprised, noting that the APC tempted them with numerous promises that were unlikely to be fulfilled.

He said, “Well, even before now, I had asked some of the governor’s aides in Kano State as well: what is your guarantee that you will secure a second-term ticket from the party you might be joining? We must also remember that the governor himself has not spoken up until today.

“As is usually the case in the APC, they try to lure you in, and once you are in, they do not provide the ground rules. By the time you realise, it becomes difficult to exit. We are not surprised because the APC will promise them many things, and they may not fulfil any of them.

“This situation is usually far from palatable for the governors, and it often leaves them frustrated, with their political expectations unmet and their ambitions constrained by party realities.”

(PUNCH)