Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has expressed concern about the drop in votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC), questioning whether the party still connects effectively with its traditional supporters.
Speaking at the APC Stakeholders Forum in Lagos, which endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term, Fashola reflected on how the party’s closest opposition once held about a third of APC’s total votes but noted a shift in recent times.
He raised key questions about the party’s current grassroots engagement and membership management, asking whether APC maintains an updated register of active members who can be mobilized during elections.
“Where are our traditional voters? Are they still with us? Are they turning out for us? And why are they not turning out enough?” Fashola asked, emphasizing the need for honest answers to revive voter enthusiasm.
Highlighting the importance of enthusiasm in political participation, he urged the party to assess whether its policies and programs still resonate with its base and questioned the effectiveness of its internal reward and networking systems.
Fashola also spotlighted the involvement of youth in the party, expressing concern over the apparent lack of engagement of younger generations, including the children of APC leaders.
“How many of our children come to our rallies and our campaigns? If it is important to us, we must make it important to them and find a way to connect them to it,” he said.
He called on APC leaders to strengthen connections with youth wings in APC-led states and institutions, likening the party to a university club that should actively attract and retain members.
Despite his concerns, Fashola remained optimistic, describing the current period as “a season of renewed hope” that could inspire greater enthusiasm and voter turnout in future elections.
