2027: Automatic tickets for lawmakers will boost Tinubu's re-election bid - Progressive youths
The Progressive Youths for National Stability (PYNS) has thrown its weight behind the proposed plan to grant automatic return tickets to high-performing All Progressives Congress (APC) federal lawmakers, calling it a strategic move aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for political stability and national development.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its president, Comrade Aminu Mustapha Bako, the group described the initiative as a “masterstroke” that will consolidate the legislative-executive synergy achieved under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This isn’t about entrenching individuals; it’s about entrenching progress,” the statement read. “We are advocating for continuity of competence. Lawmakers who have become engines of reform and partners in delivering critical legislation deserve the chance to complete their work.”
Bako added that granting automatic tickets to proven lawmakers would help reduce the high legislative turnover that often stalls governance, while fostering a more stable and predictable environment for effective policy implementation.
“You cannot build a sustainable democracy on shifting sands. If we keep changing the players every four years, we risk resetting progress. With a core team of experienced legislators, the President can focus on delivery, not damage control,” he said.
The group warned that the APC must guard against subtle internal sabotage, noting that leaders of an emerging anti-Tinubu coalition have been reaching out to lawmakers in a bid to fracture the party’s legislative base ahead of 2027.
“These are not alliances built on ideas or national interest. They are built on personal grudge and opportunism. But what gives us confidence is that many lawmakers have remained unmoved — because they know President Tinubu is not only a master strategist, but also a leader who honours his word,” Bako asserted.
According to the group, these lawmakers are not loyal out of obligation, but because of a history of mutual respect, consistent engagement, and shared vision for Nigeria’s future.
“What we see in the National Assembly today is a group of legislators who are not just allies of the President, but development partners. That’s the bond this policy seeks to protect. The President doesn’t forget his own, and in return, they’re standing firm with him,” Bako noted.
He also warned that disrupting this alignment could harm legislative cohesion and derail key policies currently in motion under the Tinubu administration.
“When the executive and legislature are in sync, the country wins. Friction slows reforms, but synergy accelerates results. Automatic return tickets aren’t political handouts — they’re a stabilising force for continuity, especially when tied to performance.”
He addressed dissent within party ranks, particularly from a few governors opposed to the automatic ticket proposal. He cited Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia as a notable voice of opposition, urging for reconciliation over rebellion.
“Governor Alia has a right to his view, but there’s a bigger picture. This is not the time for ego or posturing. This is the time to unify behind a President who has shown extraordinary courage in leading difficult reforms. Consensus, not conflict, must define the party’s approach moving forward,” the group declared.
The group further urged the APC leadership, particularly the National Working Committee, to consider the broader implications of legislative continuity for policy stability, national unity, and electoral victory.
“What the party needs now is not division, but unity of purpose. We must reduce the cycle of post-primary litigation, factionalism, and distrust. Rewarding credible performance with continuity isn’t just good politics — it’s good governance,” the statement added.
“We must stop treating experience as expendable. This is about national interest, not narrow ambition. Automatic return tickets for those who have earned it is not a shortcut but a strategic path to a stronger, more stable, and more successful 2027.”
