Tinubu Declines Senators’ Bid for Automatic Tickets, Backs Governors’ Control

President Bola Tinubu has declined a proposal by senators seeking guaranteed return tickets ahead of the next general elections, instead reaffirming the influence of state governors over party nominations.

The position emerged after a meeting on Wednesday between the president and the extended leadership of the Senate at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Lawmakers described the engagement as urgent, coming shortly after a closed-door executive session of the upper chamber.

The delegation was led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who arrived with other principal officers following adjournment of plenary. While official details of the meeting were limited, it was widely understood to be connected to deliberations held earlier in the Senate.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed the meeting but did not disclose its substance. A statement attributed to the Senate leadership said discussions covered “matters of urgent national importance” and produced “far-reaching decisions.”

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele echoed that description in a separate communication, without offering specifics.

However, a senior National Assembly source indicated that the meeting included a request from senators for automatic party tickets to secure their re-election bids. According to the source, lawmakers argued that such an arrangement would ensure continuity and political stability.

The president rejected the proposal, the source said, stressing that governors should retain control over candidate selection within their states. Tinubu’s stance reinforces the existing power structure within party systems, where governors play a decisive role in shaping electoral tickets.

No official statement from the presidency or the Senate directly addressed the reported request for automatic tickets.