Fresh concerns have emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) following allegations that five states may be sidelined from participating fully in the party’s primaries and presidential convention due to unresolved disputes over the status of some deputy national officers.

However, the Senate has dismissed speculations that its relationship with the Presidency may be strained over the reported refusal of President Bola Tinubu to guarantee automatic tickets for returning lawmakers, particularly those elected on the APC platform.

The controversy comes barely a month after the inauguration of a new set of national executives, with party stakeholders warning that growing internal disagreements could threaten cohesion ahead of the 2027 general election.

At the centre of the dispute are claims that a directive by Tinubu to include all deputy national officers in the National Working Committee (NWC) has not been fully implemented.

Sources within the party said the directive was designed to broaden participation and strengthen inclusiveness within the APC leadership structure, but alleged that only a number of deputy officers had been recognised, while others were excluded.

Some party members argued that the selective implementation had revived longstanding grievances among stakeholders who believe all deputy national officers should enjoy equal status under the APC constitution.

A former party official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the development as a lingering structural issue that had persisted under previous party administrations.

According to the source, some individuals who previously challenged the arrangement were allegedly prevented from returning to office, deepening resentment within the party hierarchy.

Attention has also focused on provisions of the APC’s 2022 amended constitution, which some stakeholders interpret as recognising several deputy national officers as part of the NWC’s broader operational structure.

Those reportedly affected include representatives linked to Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Ekiti, Cross River, and Zamfara states.

The alleged exclusion has raised concerns among party leaders in the affected states, with observers warning that failure to address the matter could weaken participation in future party activities.

APC controls 87 seats in the upper legislative chamber, following a wave of defections from opposition parties in recent months, fuelling expectations among lawmakers of favourable consideration ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, investigations by The Guardian indicate that the Senate leadership is making efforts to sustain seamless collaboration between the legislature and the executive in the final phase of the administration.

Senate spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu, dismissed concerns over a possible rift, describing them as unfounded and the handiwork of detractors. He maintained that there was no disagreement between the two arms of government capable of undermining governance.

“It is mere imagination. There is no issue between the Senate and the Presidency,” he said, stressing that legislative-executive cooperation remains intact.

Adaramodu promised to send a detailed statement to The Guardian on the matter, but had not sent it at the time of writing this report despite reminders.

Hopes by many lawmakers to secure automatic return tickets suffered a setback following the President’s decision to allow state governors to take full control of the party’s primary process in their respective states.

At a closed-door meeting with the extended leadership of the Senate at the Presidential Villa, last week, Tinubu made it clear that governors, as leaders of the party in their states, would determine the emergence of candidates for elective offices.

The development is said to have heightened anxiety among some federal lawmakers, particularly those with strained relationships with their governors.

A senior National Assembly source familiar with the meeting disclosed that senators had sought assurances from the President on automatic tickets to guarantee continuity and stability in the legislature, but their request was declined.

After his meeting with the Senate leadership, the President met with APC governors, where he reaffirmed their authority over the primary process in line with the Electoral Act. Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, said the President had given governors the go-ahead to conduct primaries either through consensus or direct election.

APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, had earlier ruled out automatic tickets, insisting that the party’s constitution does not provide for such an arrangement and that performance, rather than incumbency, would determine candidacy.

Meanwhile, ahead of the May 18 Senate primaries fixed by the APC, political realignments across states have continued to gather momentum, with some lawmakers facing stiff opposition from their governors, a situation that may lead to significant turnover in the next National Assembly.

In a related development, youths in Borno South Senatorial District have intensified efforts to ensure the return of Senator Ali Ndume for a fifth term in the National Assembly.

The youths, drawn from the nine local councils of the district, at the weekend, organised a fundraising event in Maiduguri, where over N38.5 million was realised to procure the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the lawmaker. (The Guardian)