Defected lawmakers promised APC automatic tickets but face governor hurdle

Political analyst Sumner Sambo told Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ on Wednesday that lawmakers who defected to the APC were promised automatic tickets for the 2027 elections, but now the party is requiring them to secure governor endorsements first. The interview was monitored by DAILY POST.

Sambo explained that President Tinubu said he would discuss the issue with party leadership, but the onus is now on state governors. If a governor doesn’t support a defector, that lawmaker’s political future is at risk. "They were told they would be given an automatic ticket... now the APC is asking them to go through their governors first. So if your governor doesn’t like your face... then that means it’s gone. So some of them are trapped in a bubble," Sambo said.

This situation affects defected lawmakers nationwide who relied on APC’s central promise to switch parties. Without governor backing, they may lose their seats or face tough primaries. It also underscores the power of state governors in Nigerian politics and potential fractures within the APC ahead of 2027.

Lawmakers must now decide: lobby governors aggressively, switch parties again, or contest independently despite the risks. Will they push Tinubu to fulfill the original promise or adapt to the new reality?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/04/02/2027-defected-lawmakers-promised-apc-automatic-ticket-sambo/