Yagba 2027: The Cost of Starting All Over Again

J.O. Abel-Ontop

Every election presents a constituency with a choice. That choice is not always simply between candidates or political parties; sometimes, it is between continuity and a fresh beginning. As Yagba approaches the 2027 political season, one question deserves serious consideration: what does the constituency gain or lose when it decides to replace an experienced representative and start the political process all over again?

This is the central idea behind the argument that Yagba 2027 could carry a cost if the constituency chooses to start afresh without carefully weighing the value of accumulated experience.

In politics, experience is an asset that cannot be acquired overnight. A new representative may come with energy, ambition and good intentions, but must still learn the procedures of the National Assembly, understand the workings of committees, build relationships with government institutions and establish the political networks necessary to pursue issues effectively. These processes take time.

Rt. Hon. Leke Joseph Abejide’s two terms in the House of Representatives have given him that institutional experience. His responsibilities in the National Assembly, including his chairmanship of the House Committee on Customs and Excise, have exposed him to national issues and federal institutions beyond the immediate boundaries of Yagba.

The argument for continuity, therefore, should not be based merely on familiarity with a sitting representative. It should be based on whether the experience already acquired can continue to serve the constituency.

There is also a political dimension that cannot be ignored. A representative who has spent years within the National Assembly and the wider political establishment naturally develops relationships and an understanding of how political decisions are made. These relationships are not guarantees of government action, but they can provide channels through which legitimate constituency interests are presented and pursued.

Starting all over again means rebuilding much of this political capital.

A new representative would have to establish a new network, understand a new institutional environment and develop credibility among colleagues and government officials. None of these things is impossible. Indeed, some new lawmakers eventually become influential. But there is an inevitable period of adjustment, and a constituency must decide whether the potential benefits of a change justify the loss of accumulated experience.

This is not an argument against new leadership. Democracy must always leave room for fresh ideas, new talents and alternative visions. No elected representative should regard public office as a permanent entitlement. Every mandate belongs to the people, and every politician must remain subject to their judgment.

But elections should also be contests of records, capacity and possibilities. If continuity is being considered, the relevant question should be: what has the existing representative built, what remains to be achieved, and what could another term realistically add?

For Yagba, that conversation is particularly important because political representation is not an isolated exercise. The constituency’s interests are connected to federal policies, national infrastructure, economic opportunities, security, education and other matters requiring engagement beyond the local level. Having an experienced voice within the national political structure can therefore be considered an asset.

The cost of starting all over again, in this sense, is not necessarily financial. It is the possible cost of lost time, rebuilding political capital and surrendering institutional experience that has already been acquired.

At the same time, continuity should come with higher expectations. The longer a representative remains in office, the greater the demand for accountability. Experience should produce better judgment, stronger advocacy and greater effectiveness. A second or third term should not simply be an extension of the previous one; it should represent an opportunity to consolidate what has been achieved and address areas where more work is required.

That is why the 2027 question for Yagba should be approached beyond political loyalty. The constituency should examine its long-term interests and determine which option gives it the strongest platform to advance those interests.

For Abejide, another mandate would offer the opportunity to build on an already established legislative and political foundation. For Yagba, it would mean deciding whether that foundation is valuable enough to preserve and strengthen.

Ultimately, “Yagba 2027: The Cost of Starting All Over Again” is not a declaration that change is bad or that continuity is automatically right. It is a call for the electorate to consider the value of what has already been built before choosing to dismantle and rebuild it.

In politics, starting afresh can sometimes be necessary. But where experience, relationships and institutional knowledge have been accumulated, starting again also carries a price.

For Yagba in 2027, the real question may therefore not be simply who should represent us next? It may be the more strategic question:

“What have we built, what do we stand to lose, and what gives Yagba the strongest advantage going forward?”