Group seeks political sanctions for underperforming leaders ahead of elections

A political group, BAT Ideological Group (BAT-IG), has called for strict political consequences for underperforming public office holders, urging President Bola Tinubu to deny them opportunities to return to office.

In an open letter signed by its convener, Bamidele Atoyebi, the group said the approaching election cycle provides a critical opportunity to enforce accountability across all levels of government.

The group argued that elected officials who fail to translate increased federal allocations and resources into visible development projects should not be rewarded with party tickets or re-election bids.

Atoyebi maintained that poor governance has contributed to persistent challenges such as insecurity, weak healthcare systems, and inadequate infrastructure, stressing that such failures should carry political costs.

He urged the President to extend accountability measures beyond governors to include ministers, heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), members of the National Assembly, and local government chairmen.

According to the group, denying underperforming officials political opportunities would serve as a deterrent and compel leaders to prioritise service delivery.

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The letter also highlighted concerns over the management of security votes, lack of investment in rural infrastructure, and insufficient support for primary healthcare and education, which it said continue to negatively impact citizens.

While reaffirming its support for the President’s administration, the group emphasized the need for decisive action to ensure that public office holders are held responsible for their performance.

BAT-IG added that enforcing political accountability would strengthen governance and align leadership outcomes with public expectations.

He said: “The time is ripe for the hunter to be hunted. It is time for the President to deploy his legendary political sagacity to hold these leaders accountable. We urge President Tinubu to use this electioneering period to demand scorecards worthy of good governance. Let it be known that if their projects do not match their monthly paychecks, they should be shown the way out as that makes them bad managers of much-needed resources. Their political dreams should be cut short.”