…New Congresses To Alter Current Ward, LG Structures
…Primaries By Affirmation on the Cards
…Strategists Insist Party Stability Outweighs Dissent
By Jeremy Fregene
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is seriously considering granting automatic second-term tickets to Governors Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, alongside other heavyweight defectors, KTH Daily has learnt.
Top party strategists say they are weighing various options to deliver hitch-free second-term tickets to these high-profile defectors in a move they describe as not only about rewarding “bold political sacrifices” but also about consolidating APC’s grip on the South-South ahead of 2027.
A senior party figure who is central to the re-election blueprint of the Tinubu administration told KTH Daily at the weekend that all “distractions” about internal grumblings and factional resistance cannot stop the party from securing the political future of its new recruits.
Part of the party’s leadership strategy is to take advantage of the forthcoming APC congresses slated for November/ December 2025 to dissolve the existing structures at ward, local government, and state levels and hand them over to the governors.
Another compelling strategy which is being examined is primary elections by affirmation. But there are worries that problems can ensue in the voice vote that can lead to legal challenges down the road.
As key members of the National Working Committee (NWC) deliberate the best possible way to ensure the reelection of their high-profile defectors, the body language from the presidency suggests strong support for the automatic ticket plan. President Tinubu, another key insider told this newspaper, is keen to shield his new South-South allies from destabilising contests that could fracture the party’s newfound foothold in the region.
“The President is a pragmatic politician,” he said, pointing out he knows that these governors can easily win the general elections in their respective states, and is very likely to insist that the party allows them to fly its flag with minimal hitches or internal sabotage by old rivals within the APC.
“Let’s be frank: Oborevwori and Umo Eno have given this party unprecedented access into territories the PDP has long monopolised. They’ve taken big risks, they’ve made bold moves, and they’ve brought massive political capital. The party cannot afford to expose them to hostile primaries.
“These are governors who had their second-term tickets assured in their former parties. We cannot in good conscience invite them to our party and ruin their political careers. Automatic tickets for them are not just rewards, they are strategic imperatives that will determine public perception of APC going forward,” the strategist declared.
In close circles, some party stakeholders have raised concerns, citing resistance from entrenched “landlords” in Delta APC like Ovie Omo-Agege’s camp, leadership tussles in state chapters, grassroots friction over registration, and even public denials by state leaders. Others warn of possible revolt or litigation if automatic tickets are imposed.
But APC insiders dismiss these concerns as exaggerated. According to the strategist, “No political transition comes without friction. What matters is winning and keeping power. Those complaining will adjust once they see the bigger picture. And on our own part, we will ensure that we come up with strategies that will be acceptable for the majority. Our priority is to stabilise government, consolidate the party, and secure Tinubu’s national coalition.
In Akwa Ibom, Governor Umo Eno’s case has sparked heated debate. Critics point to lingering grassroots frictions, unresolved disputes over defectors’ legitimacy, and the argument that his political base remains “soft” compared to PDP’s entrenched machinery. Others claim his candidacy could inflame local APC rivalries, with aspirants insisting the party must go through competitive primaries.
But our source dismissed these arguments as hollow. He said that Umo’s quiet but steady leadership style, reputation for stability, and his ability to attract investment into the state make him indispensable to the APC South-South calculus.
“Those who say Umo is weak forget that he is the bridge-builder who is keeping Akwa Ibom calm and politically relevant to Abuja. You don’t throw away such an asset because of the noise of disgruntled aspirants,” he told KTH Daily.
According to him, guaranteeing Eno a second term under APC will not only secure Akwa Ibom but also send a strong signal that defectors who take the leap of faith into APC can trust the party to protect them.
“For the APC, Oborevwori and Umo are not just governors; they are the faces of a breakthrough in the South-South, a region that holds vast electoral and economic weight,” our source said, adding that anything short of “protecting their incumbency with guaranteed second terms would be political suicide.”
“Look at the map,” he continued. “The South-South is critical. By securing Delta and Akwa Ibom through these men, we are reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape. This is bigger than internal quarrels. It is about ensuring that APC is unshakable in 2027.”
Although APC has traditionally prided itself on internal democracy, our source, who is also a party elder, says the circumstances call for pragmatism. “We can’t be emotional about primaries when the stakes are this high,” he pointed out, maintaining that “the unity and continuity of APC far outweigh the grievances of a few who may feel threatened.”