Tinubu Meets APC Governors, Delegates Ticket Decisions Ahead of May 23 Primary

President Bola Tinubu hosted All Progressives Congress (APC) governors at the Presidential Villa this week, granting state leaders greater autonomy over ticket allocations while urging them to conduct hitch-free primaries that preserve party unity.

According to sources familiar with the closed-door meeting, the President emphasized that contentious selections could weaken the APC’s prospects ahead of the 2027 elections. “The focus must be on cohesion, not competition,” one attendee recounted.

The engagement comes as the APC finalizes logistics for its presidential primary, now rescheduled to May 23. The party has also adopted a dual-mode system—blending direct and indirect voting—to broaden participation while maintaining procedural control.

Party insiders say the hybrid approach seeks to balance grassroots inclusion with strategic oversight. “We want voices from the wards to matter, but the process must remain credible, transparent, and manageable,” explained a national official.

As the May 23 date approaches, APC stakeholders across Nigeria are watching closely: Can the new framework deliver the smooth, inclusive primaries the President has called for? And will party unity hold when political ambitions inevitably collide?

For now, the message from Aso Rock is clear: unity is non-negotiable, and the path to 2027 begins with primaries that reflect the Renewed Hope Agenda—not internal division.