APC Will Thrive Without Buhari’s Ballot Power – Omisore
Former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore, has dismissed concerns that the party’s political strength will diminish following the absence of late former President, Muhammadu Buhari on the ballot.
Omisore while speaking on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television, acknowledged Buhari’s significant influence on APC’s growth and electoral successes, but stressed that the party is not in decline.
He argued that Nigeria’s political terrain has evolved, and any drop in the APC’s vote count in the 2023 elections should be seen as a result of increased competition, not Buhari’s absence as a candidate.
“President Buhari gave the APC structure and a distinct political identity. His integrity, popularity, and consistency, especially in northern Nigeria, were critical to our earlier victories. But the political terrain in 2023 was very different. Unlike 2015 and 2019, which were essentially two-horse races, this time we had three strong contenders: APC, PDP, and the Labour Party,” Omisore said.
He pushed back against suggestions that the drop in APC’s vote count—from 15.4 million in 2015 to 8.7 million in 2023—was evidence of the party’s weakness.
“You can’t just look at the numbers in isolation. In 2015 and 2019, there were two dominant parties, so the votes were concentrated. In 2023, with three strong contenders, the votes were more evenly distributed. That’s a fundamental difference,” he explained.
Omisore further cautioned against simplistic assumptions about voter alignment.
“Voters are not transfer assets. Just because two parties are in opposition doesn’t mean they share the same support base.”
He also responded to criticism that Buhari’s campaign efforts in 2023 did not yield the same results as in previous cycles. Omisore defended the former president, noting that he remained actively involved and showed public support for the APC and its candidate, Bola Tinubu.
“President Buhari still went around, visited many states, and gave his blessings to our candidate. But 2023 had new variables. Peter Obi pulled significant weight in the South East and parts of the South South, and Atiku Abubakar remained strong in the North East. That fragmented the vote in ways we hadn’t seen before,” he noted.
Omisore described Buhari as more than a political figure, calling him “an institution” whose popularity extended deeply into the grassroots. “There are states where people voted for candidates just because they were associated with him. That’s the level of trust he built.”
However, he stressed that the APC must move beyond individual personalities. “The party must deepen its roots, reform where necessary, and continue to serve the people. We have capable hands. We cannot lean on one figure forever.”
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
