Since its historic victory in the 2015 general elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has experienced a noticeable and consistent decline in the number of votes it garners during subsequent elections.
In 2015, APC Lagos rode on a wave of popular support, public trust, and a strong desire for change, securing 811,994 votes in the governorship election. The party’s message resonated widely, capturing the hearts and ballots of millions across Lagos.
However, by 2019, those numbers dipped significantly. Though APC retained control of Lagos, it did so with 739,445 votes,a decline of over 72,000 votes from 2015. This decrease signaled an early warning of growing disengagement among the electorate.
The trend reached a critical point in the 2023 presidential election, where APC polled just 572,606 votes in Lagos, losing the state for the first time since 1999 to the Labour Party, which secured 582,454 votes. The gap was narrow, but the message was clear: enthusiasm for the ruling party is fading, especially in urban centers like Lagos that were once its strongholds.
This pattern of diminishing support should not be dismissed as mere electoral dynamics; it is a glaring indication of growing political apathy, particularly among young voters and first-time participants. The perceived disconnect between political leadership and the everyday struggles of ordinary citizens is eroding trust. Promises made but not kept, internal party disputes, and a lack of visible grassroots engagement have pushed many to retreat from the political process.
If this current attitude of indifference, imposition, and internal disunity continues unchecked within the APC and across the political space, we risk nurturing a generation that sees no value in participation, no hope in leadership, and no purpose in the ballot.
The APC must urgently reflect, re-engage, and renew its contract with the people. True progress lies not only in retaining power but in reviving public confidence, encouraging active participation, and restoring the sense of collective ownership in governance.
The time to act is now, before apathy cements itself as Lagos’s dominant political culture.
