President Bola Tinubu has reportedly directed All Progressives Congress (APC) governors serving their final term in office to prepare to contest Senate seats in 2027.
According to Guardian, this is part of efforts to keep them fully involved in the political process and to secure strong backing for the All Progressives Congress during the elections.
The presidential and National Assembly polls, which include Senate and House of Representatives contests, are scheduled to hold on January 16, 2027, based on the timetable released by the electoral body.
Sources with knowledge of the development said the plan is to ensure that outgoing governors remain active during campaigns and on election day. By running for Senate seats, they are expected to mobilize support across their states and contribute directly to the party’s performance at the polls.
One of the affected governors admitted that he had not planned to seek another elective position after completing his tenure. However, he explained that decisions within party politics often require members to follow the direction of the leadership.
He also dismissed claims that the arrangement was mainly to raise campaign funds. According to him, the main idea is to make sure key political figures are directly involved in the election process, since it is difficult for one person to cover all areas during a major election.
He stated, “A lot of things are involved during elections. Although I have never contested in a presidential election, I know that, just as in the governorship, if you are involved in the election, you cannot be everywhere. So, our leader wants it to be a collective responsibility for the party to win and win well.”
