0
0
The End of “Automatic Return Ticket”: President Bola Tinubu Should Be Applauded
By Allen Sowore Esq.
“Automatic Return Ticket” is a familiar political slang used to describe an unwritten arrangement within a political party, where an elected office holder is allowed to re-emerge as a candidate or flag bearer without undergoing a fresh primary election. It is often associated with smaller parties where contestation is minimal.
However, the concept of an “automatic ticket” is fundamentally flawed. It is undemocratic, unknown to law, and largely unreliable. More often than not, it exists as a myth—a propaganda tool deployed by incumbents to intimidate and discourage potential aspirants.
Under the current 2026 Electoral Act, the recognized modes of conducting party primaries are limited to two: consensus and direct primaries. The notion of an “automatic ticket” or “return ticket” is not captured anywhere in our legal framework. That said, incumbents do possess what may be described as a “record advantage.” Ultimately, their performance in office will speak either for or against them.
In many respects, the idea of an “automatic ticket” mirrors the Yoruba expression “Baba sọ pé”—meaning “father has said.” In practical terms, it translates to imposition.
You may recall my recent satirical trip to Abuja in search of the so-called “Automatic Ticket Office”—a fictional construct I highlighted to underscore the absurdity of the concept. Unsurprisingly, no such office exists.
Recent developments have now laid the matter to rest. Credible reports indicate that the leadership of the ruling party has effectively shut down lobbying efforts by members of the National Assembly seeking automatic return tickets.
President Bola Tinubu deserves commendation for rebuffing these attempts at political entitlement and easy passage to power. Instead, he reaffirmed the authority of state governors in coordinating the process of candidate selection within their respective states. This position was reinforced following high-level meetings with both the leadership of the Senate and state governors.
At these engagements, the President emphasized strict adherence to the Electoral Act and the party constitution, empowering governors to oversee the primary election process—either through consensus or direct primaries.
For Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, and State Assembly members elected in 2023—particularly those who have since distanced themselves from their constituencies, neglected party structures, and lost touch with grassroots realities—the message is unmistakable: the era of “automatic tickets” is over.
Some representatives, after relocating to Abuja, have even lamented the poor state of roads leading to their constituencies, as though such realities absolve them of responsibility. Yet, these same individuals had wanted to lay claim to automatic renomination.
Nonetheless, there remain committed representatives and aspirants who continue to engage their constituents, consult widely, and build genuine grassroots support. Such individuals will, in due course, earn their victories through legitimate and democratic means—reflecting the true collective will of the people.
In the final analysis, the idea of an “automatic ticket” had earlier appeared smooth and effortless—like an automatic transmission vehicle. But at the slightest malfunction, both driver and passengers are left stranded—perhaps, fittingly, on the Abuja highway. And that is the end of “Automatic Return Ticket.
Comrade Allen Sowore, Esq.
Special Adviser to the Governor (Communication & Strategy)
24th April, 2026
About The Author
