A group within the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Tuesday expressed concerns over what it describes as a drastic decline in turnout of voters during the Ondo South by-election held on Saturday.

The Grassroots Movement for Tinubu GMT, Ondo State chapter stated that the sharp decline witnessed in voter turnout, when compared to previous elections held in the state, calls for reflection.

While congratulating the winner of the by-election, Prof. Dayo Faduyile of the APC, GMT in a statement issued by its Director of Media, Ojo Oyewamide, maintained that the development should serve as a “wake-up call” for the party in the state, particularly since the 2027 general election is fast approaching.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared Faduyile, a former National President of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, winner after polling 68,474 votes across the six local government areas of the senatorial district.

The group, which described the outing of the APC as unimpressive, disclosed that the party was able to secure a total of 126,196 votes in the senatorial district in the 2024 governorship election that produced Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“According to the distribution of the votes, APC in 2024 scored 26,811 in Okitipupa, 17,127 in Irele, 24,414 in Ilaje, 14,511 in Ese-Odo, 26,683 in Odigbo, and 16,600 in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo.

“This development is even more noteworthy considering that Hon. Agboola Ajayi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2024 election, alongside several notable PDP leaders and supporters, has since joined the APC. Ordinarily, the influx of such political heavyweights and their supporters should have translated into increased electoral strength for our party.

“The lesson is clear. Victory should not breed complacency. Rather, it should inspire introspection, reconciliation, and renewed grassroots mobilization. The APC in Ondo State must urgently embark on genuine reconciliation and inclusive party-building. Every stakeholder must be carried along.

“The task before us is bigger than any individual or group. We cannot afford internal divisions at a time when preparations for the 2027 presidential election should already be gathering momentum.

“GMT also wishes to commend the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his unwavering commitment to the success of President Tinubu and the APC. His support for various grassroots political groups has significantly expanded the reach of the Renewed Hope message across Ondo State,” Oyewamide said.

Former presidential spokesperson and Arise TV anchor, Reuben Abati, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to explain to Nigerians why the Edo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, allegedly served as the commission’s observer in the just concluded Ekiti State governorship election.

DAILY POST reports that the Edo APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, was captured in a viral video wearing a vest associated with INEC while allegedly serving as an accredited election observer.

The development has sparked controversies with concerned Nigerians accusing the electoral umpire of rigging the election in favour of the ruling party.

Reacting during the Morning Show Program on Tuesday, Abati questioned how Tenebe was accredited to serve as an INEC observer.

He said, “The APC chairman who was adorned in INEC accredited uniform, I probably think that is for fashion but the election observers are supposed to be non-partisan.

“They should be neutral and unbiased, that is why many of them are drawn from non-governmental organizations.

“But the APC chairman is a partisan person wearing an INEC uniform. That is the source of the controversy. INEC owes Nigerians an explanation.

“How did the uniform get to him? Who accredited him as an observer? Under what circumstances did he become an observer?”

A chieftain of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Seye Oladejo, has said the just-concluded governorship election in Ekiti State is a wake-up call to all politicians and political parties in Nigeria.

Oladejo said the election has shown that elections are won at the polling units through Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, and not on social media.

Oladejo said the election was a reminder that while social media remains an important platform for political engagement, opinion moulding and information dissemination, it is not a substitute for grassroots political mobilisation, voter education and the painstaking task of earning the trust and confidence of the electorate.

In a statement he signed tagged, ‘Ekiti 2026: When the PVC Defeated Social Media Hype’, Oladejo said: “The outcome of the Ekiti State governorship election has once again reinforced a timeless lesson in democratic politics: elections are won at the polling units by voters armed with their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), not on social media timelines dominated by hashtags and viral sentiments.

“The election serves as a fitting reminder that while social media remains an important platform for political engagement, opinion moulding, and information dissemination, it is not a substitute for grassroots political mobilisation, voter education, and the painstaking task of earning the trust and confidence of the electorate.

“For too long, there has been a growing tendency in our political environment to mistake digital popularity for electoral strength. A loud online presence, trending conversations, and coordinated social media campaigns may create an illusion of widespread support, but the ultimate test of political relevance lies in the ability to convert goodwill into actual votes.”

He noted that the just-concluded governorship election in Ekiti State has reinforced the believe that an average electorate is becoming independent-minded.

Oladejo said: “The Ekiti governorship election has once again demonstrated that the average Nigerian voter is discerning and increasingly independent-minded. The people evaluate candidates not merely on the basis of online narratives but on competence, credibility, track record, and their perceived capacity to address the pressing challenges confronting society.

“This election has also reaffirmed the enduring relevance of political structures and community engagement. Democracy is fundamentally a people-driven process that thrives on direct interaction, door-to-door campaigns, stakeholder consultations, and consistent engagement with the electorate. Political parties that neglect grassroots mobilisation in favour of social media grandstanding do so at their own peril.

“The lesson from Ekiti extends beyond the state’s boundaries. It is particularly instructive as political actors begin to intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections. The temptation to confuse digital activism with electoral supremacy must be resisted. Social media can amplify messages, shape narratives, and energise supporters, but it cannot replace the indispensable role of PVCs and active voter participation.

“The election result is therefore a triumph of democratic participation and a victory for citizens who exercised their civic responsibility peacefully and responsibly. It is a testament to the fact that democracy belongs to those who participate, not merely to those who comment from the sidelines.”

He insisted that the experience gathered from the Ekiti State governorship election would serve as a wakeup call for politicians and political parties ahead of the upcoming off-cycle elections.

“As we move closer to another electoral cycle, the Ekiti experience should serve as a wake-up call to politicians and political parties across the country. The road to electoral success remains what it has always been: building trust among the people, articulating credible programmes, maintaining an effective grassroots presence, and encouraging citizens to obtain and use their Permanent Voters Cards.

“Ultimately, the Ekiti State governorship election will be remembered not simply for who won and who lost, but for the powerful message it delivered to Nigeria’s political class-that in a democracy, the Permanent Voters Card remains more potent than social media hype. The ballot, not the hashtag, remains the true currency of political power,” he added.