A powerful bloc within the National Assembly of Nigeria has renewed pressure on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to grant automatic return tickets to serving lawmakers, framing the move as critical to protecting and sustaining the reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The push took centre stage at the party’s 4th Elective National Convention in Abuja, where party leaders and delegates converged to redefine strategy ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
Leading the charge, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, argued that shielding performing lawmakers from the uncertainties of party primaries would preserve legislative stability and fast-track policy execution.
At a time of sweeping economic and institutional reforms, Abbas warned, internal contests risk distracting lawmakers from delivering on the administration’s “Renewed Hope” mandate.
“The stability of the legislature is critical to sustaining reform momentum,” he said. “Automatic tickets will allow lawmakers to stay focused on governance rather than political survival.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio echoed the sentiment, backing continuity as a strategic necessity rather than a political favour. He pointed to ongoing interventions in education financing through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, infrastructure expansion, and agricultural programmes as evidence of reforms that require legislative consistency to mature.
Akpabio also used the moment to rally party unity, praising the breadth of participation at the convention and reaffirming the legislature’s alignment with the executive arm.
The proposal has gained traction among influential party stakeholders, including former governors and senior figures, who see continuity as key to consolidating gains under APC leadership.
Yet, beneath the momentum, unease persists.
Critics within the party warn that automatic tickets could erode internal democracy, weaken competition, and alienate grassroots supporters who view primaries as a cornerstone of party legitimacy.
While President Tinubu stopped short of directly endorsing the proposal, his message to party faithful was clear—unity must remain paramount.
“Our greatest strength has never been our size, but our unity,” he said, cautioning against divisions that could derail progress.
He also paid tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari, whose legacy, he noted, helped shape the party’s rise to national dominance.
As deliberations continue, the debate over automatic tickets is fast emerging as more than an internal party issue—it is a defining test of how the APC balances political control with democratic principles ahead of 2027.
Lawmakers seek automatic tickets to avoid primaries, sustain reforms
