The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday said it did not grant automatic tickets to its members in the National Assembly to contest the 2027 general election.

APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, who made this clarification, described media reports to that effect as fake and urged party members and the public to disregard the report.

“The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a purported Breaking News Report tagged “APC Grants Automatic Tickets to All National Assembly Members” in viral circulation.

“We urge all party members and the general public to disregard the report as FAKE and of mischievous origin,” he said.

LEADERSHIP, on Monday, exclusively reported an unease in the APC over the prospects of automatic tickets for lawmakers.

APC sources and those within the party’s governors’ forum, the Progressives Governors’ Forum, told LEADERSHIP that some governors opposed the automatic ticket option and were set to meet the APC national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, over the contentious issue.

However, some other governors, especially from the South West, called for caution over the matter, noting that the return ticket idea for the federal lawmakers came from the presidential villa.

However, in a recent gathering of APC leaders and stakeholders from the North-central geopolitical zone where Tinubu was endorsed for a second term, Ganduje stated that the party would support active lawmakers in the National Assembly to return at the end of their tenure in 2027.

“We should continue to thank our legislators for their support…why are we having high turnover of our legislators, after four years you find the person out. Can that encourage institutional memory? If we cannot do it by law, we can do it by advocacy.

“So, it is the responsibility of the party to dialogue with the leadership of the National Assembly so that those legislators who are very active, who are movers, to see how they can come back,” Ganduje said.

LEADERSHIP reports that the chairman of the APC governors and Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, said he would abide by the party’s position on the automatic ticket for federal legislators.

The chief press secretary to the governor, Hon. Oguwike Nwachuku, stressed that Uzodimma, as a loyal party man, “will follow the party’s decision in respect of automatic ticket to lawmakers.”

Meanwhile, the South-South of the APC, Dr. Ita Udosen, has underscored the need for the party in Akwa Ibom State to avoid factionalisation, but to remain focused.

He explained that only unity of purpose and a common front would guarantee the party’s victory in future elections.

Addressing the forum of the Uyo Senatorial District APC stakeholders at the country home of Senator Bassey Akpan at Ididep Usuk, Ibiono Ibom local government area, ahead of the impending defections of members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition party members in the state, Udosen stressed the need for an open door for the new entrants, including the governor.

“We are calling on party members to open the doors of the APC to incoming defectors, including, possibly, Governor Umo Eno,” he said.

He clarified that the Uyo Senatorial District Stakeholders Forum (USDSF) was not in competition with the party’s structure, but would rather complement it, Udosen cautioned against misinterpretations of the forum’s intent.

“The forum is not created to fight or rival the party structure. Rather, it is a strategic platform that brings together key stakeholders of the Uyo Senatorial District to further strengthen our party’s base,” Udosen stated.

He thanked Senator Akpan for endorsing and hosting the forum, and lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership strides, including his support for the Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

On his part, the host, Senator Akpan, officially endorsed the Forum, describing it as a unifying platform.

“This Forum is the strongest political group in our senatorial district, made up of committed stakeholders. We must dismantle factionalism and build one united APC where everyone benefits meaningfully,” he noted.

Chairman of the Forum, Prof. Chris Ekong, explained that the forum was created to foster unity, end internal divisions, and refocus the APC in Uyo Senatorial District for greater relevance.