Tension is mounting within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as several state governors reportedly prepare to challenge senators and House of Representatives members from their states in the build-up to the 2027 general elections.
Party insiders say what began as disagreements over amendments to the Electoral Act has evolved into a quiet but intense power struggle over control of party tickets and influence in the next National Assembly.
The simmering crisis became more pronounced after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu publicly expressed his desire for most APC lawmakers to return to the National Assembly in 2027.
Speaking during an interfaith breaking of fast with House members led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu praised the legislators for what he described as unity and leadership, urging continuity.
“I will do everything within our party’s power. In several constituencies, there are rotational arrangements. I wish that everyone would return,” the president said.
Abbas, in his remarks, thanked Tinubu for hosting the lawmakers and warned that excessive turnover in the legislature weakens institutional memory and governance.
He cautioned that losing up to 80 percent of members after each election cycle disrupts stability and slows legislative progress.
Governors Push Back
However, governors under the umbrella of the Progressive Governors Forum are said to be dissatisfied with the president’s position.
A senior party source disclosed that many governors felt blindsided by Tinubu’s public endorsement of legislative continuity and are seeking an urgent meeting with him before his reported trip to the United Kingdom.
According to insiders, the governors plan to first hold a private strategy session to harmonise their demands and determine what concessions to seek. The outcome of those talks is expected to shape how candidates emerge for the 2027 elections.
Several governors, particularly those eyeing second terms, are reportedly working to replace incumbent federal lawmakers with loyalists in a bid to consolidate influence in the next National Assembly.
Sources also claim the struggle intensified when the forum allegedly considered Hope Uzodimma as a possible replacement for Senate President Godswill Akpabio — a move that, if pursued, could significantly reshape the leadership structure of the upper chamber.
In Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is reported to be targeting all three senators and several House members from the state. While both camps have publicly denied any rift, party insiders insist tensions are real and deepening.
The dispute in Ondo is linked to a proposed constitutional amendment concerning Section 182(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which limits governors who complete another person’s tenure to only one elected term.
Section 182(3) states:
“A person who was sworn-in as Governor to complete the term for which another person was elected as Governor shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term”.
One lawmaker familiar with discussions alleged that the governor invited federal legislators from the state to support a joint memorandum backing the amendment. The proposal was reportedly rejected.
“It is an open secret that the Governor wants to have third oath of office which is against the letter and spirit of the Constitution as it is today,” the lawmaker said.
The source added that lawmakers warned the amendment could face legal challenges and might inadvertently benefit former President Goodluck Jonathan if passed.
According to the source, the governor reacted angrily and allegedly warned that legislators who refused to cooperate could lose their party tickets in 2027.
With the 2027 elections still two years away, the unfolding struggle underscores deeper fault lines within the APC — pitting governors seeking tighter control of state political structures against federal lawmakers backed by the president’s call for continuity.
How the party navigates the competing ambitions may ultimately determine the balance of power within the next National Assembly.
