APC Federal Lawmakers Threaten Mass Defection As Governors Gain Control Over 2027 Election Tickets

National Assembly members warn of defecting from the APC as President Tinubu allegedly gives governors control over 2027 tickets. Read the full political update.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 29, 2026, 6:23 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Naija News

The Erosion of Legislative Loyalty in the Ruling Party

A significant internal rift has emerged within the All Progressives Congress as federal lawmakers express growing resentment toward the presidency. Multiple members of the National Assembly, speaking under the condition of anonymity, have threatened to defect to opposition parties if they are denied return tickets for the 2027 general elections. The primary cause of this friction is the allegation that President Bola Tinubu has delegated substantial power to state governors to dictate who represents the party at the federal level, a move that many legislators view as a betrayal of their prior loyalty.

Concerns Over Executive Protection and Political Rewards

The disgruntled lawmakers have voiced sharp disappointment, noting that their unwavering support for the President’s policies has often led to the public labeling them as a "rubber stamp" assembly. Despite this political cost, they claim the President has failed to shield them from the influence of state governors, whom they describe as increasingly power,intoxicated. One legislator lamented that after facilitating the administration's goals, they have been left at the mercy of state executives rather than being rewarded with secure standing within the party hierarchy.

Strategic Defection and the Power of Constituencies

The threat of defection is backed by the lawmakers' belief in their individual grassroots influence. Several APC members insisted that if they are forced out of the ruling party, their constituents would remain loyal to them regardless of their new political affiliation. This sentiment underscores a potential shift in the 2027 landscape, where incumbent federal representatives may take their voting blocs to rival parties, potentially weakening the APC’s majority in the National Assembly and complicating the President’s re,election prospects.