The All Progressives Congress (APC) has debunked reports claiming it has granted automatic tickets to all serving National Assembly members, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, describing the information as fake news.
The clarification comes amid growing speculation that the presidency had allegedly promised automatic return tickets to lawmakers as part of efforts to stabilize the party and reduce internal disputes ahead of future elections.
According to unnamed sources, the alleged plan was aimed at curbing the high turnover rate in the National Assembly and consolidating support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration. These sources also claimed that the presidency had advised APC governors not to oppose the automatic return of lawmakers.
The controversy intensified after a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa, where it was rumoured that party leaders endorsed Tinubu for a second term. Reports also suggested that some governors—particularly from the South West and South East—were actively pushing the automatic ticket agenda, having recruited a few APC governors who assumed office through off-cycle elections to support the move.
Despite this, internal opposition has emerged, with other governors reportedly distancing themselves from the arrangement. Two South West governors, according to insiders, expressed concern over the implications of such a directive and warned against undermining the democratic process within the party.
Meanwhile, APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, during a recent meeting with stakeholders from the North Central zone, stressed the importance of legislative continuity but did not endorse automatic tickets.
“We must continue to appreciate our lawmakers for their contributions… Why do we experience such high turnover in the National Assembly every four years? It undermines institutional memory. If we can’t fix it through legislation, we can through advocacy,” Ganduje said.
He added that the party leadership must engage in discussions with the National Assembly to ensure that effective and committed lawmakers are supported to return.
Amid the ongoing speculation, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Felix Morka, issued a statement on Tuesday firmly denying the reports.
“The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a purported breaking news report titled ‘APC Grants Automatic Tickets to All National Assembly Members’ circulating online,” Morka said.
He continued, “The report is FAKE NEWS and should be disregarded entirely, as it did not originate from our great party.”
He urged APC members and the public to ignore the claims, labeling them as misleading and mischievous.
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