All Progressives Congress Chieftain, Fuad Oki, has warned about the party’s prospects in the 2027 general elections, citing a catastrophic decline in voter participation in the July 12 Lagos State Local Government Elections.

According to a report on Monday tagged: “Preliminary Report on the July 12th Lagos State Local Government Elections: Unprecedented Low Turnout and Dire Implications for 2027,” he said the LG elections saw an unprecedented low voter turnout, with less than six per cent of the total collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) being cast.

The report attributed the low turnout to a lack of trust and disillusionment with the party and the electoral process.

Oki noted that the party’s failure to foster genuine internal democracy and its neglect of certain demographic blocs, particularly the Arewa community, have contributed to the decline in voter participation.

The Arewa community, which has historically been a strong supporter of the APC, has been neglected by the party, according to the report.

It stated that the community feels marginalised in party structures and decision-making processes, and there is a perceived absence of genuine dialogue about their specific needs, concerns, and aspirations.

The report warned that the low voter turnout is not an isolated incident, but a profound harbinger of grave consequences for the APC in the 2027 general elections.

It noted that if these trends persist, the party faces decreased electoral viability, vulnerability to opposition mobilisation, erosion of moral authority, internal party instability, and potential loss of Lagos as a stronghold.

To reverse these alarming trends, Oki called for a fundamental and immediate overhaul of the party leadership and management structure.

According to him, this overhaul must prioritise dedicated youth-based leadership, inclusivity, capacity building, performance-based assessment, and restoration of internal democracy.

The report also recommended that the party prioritise rebuilding trust and engaging existing voters before embarking on new voter registration drives.

He stated that this requires genuine outreach and dialogue with various communities, demonstrable internal democracy, visible governance impact, and targeted voter engagement programmes.

The clock is ticking towards 2027, and Oki emphasised that the APC must heed this wake-up call and act decisively to address the root causes of electoral apathy within its party.

The report reads: “The low turnout among the Igbo population, particularly in areas where their numbers are substantial, indicates that despite being ‘courted as a bride,’ they remain deeply sceptical. They are not merely abstaining; they are actively withholding their participation, signalling that the party has not yet earned their trust or demonstrated a compelling reason for their votes. Any future engagement must move beyond token gestures and address the root causes of this pervasive mistrust.

“The Youth and Disenfranchised Masses: Left Behind by a Static Party.

“Beyond specific ethnic blocs, the most significant demographic left behind by the APC is the vast majority of the electorate, particularly the youth and the broader segment of the population struggling with economic hardship. The low turnout is a screaming indictment of the party’s failure to address their aspirations, understand their grievances, and offer a credible path forward.

“This disengagement stems directly from the APC’s refusal to allow internal democracy to hold sway in its ways and means.”

He also blamed the prevailing culture of godfatherism, imposition of candidates, and a general lack of transparent, merit-based processes for leadership selection as part of the issues affecting the APC.