Posted by Chinenye on Tue 02nd Jun, 2026 - tori.ng
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has challenged female leaders within the APC to strengthen their grassroots presence as political calculations for future elections begin to gather momentum.
(First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Photo Credit: TVC News)
Stressing that numbers, not gender, determine political success, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has called on female leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to prioritize grassroots mobilization and trust-building.
Speaking on Monday at the State House in Abuja while welcoming APC women leaders from all across the nation, Mrs. Tinubu stated that in order for politicians to maintain election gains, they must stay in touch with their voters.
Politics is about numbers, not about gender. You cannot get the trust of the grassroots if you do not communicate with them," she stated.
The First Lady emphasized that political leadership is more than just winning elections, pointing out that those in positions of authority need to have close ties to the electorate.
Citing her experience as a former senator, she recalled that during her eight years in the Senate, she held quarterly town hall meetings to stay in close contact with residents.
"I have a grassroots connection." As of right now, I am the first woman in history to have participated in town hall meetings every quarter. I did that for almost eight years in a row," she remarked.
Mrs. Tinubu cautioned that many politicians become irrelevant after taking government because they lose touch with the people.
"You must establish a connection with them. "How do you want your constituents to reach out to you if I find it difficult to do so as an office holder?" she inquired.
She also emphasized the value of trust in political organizations and urged party leaders to establish enduring bonds with their constituents.
"You need to establish rapport and trust. You can't win after it's gone," she remarked.
In addition, the First Lady urged the APC women's wing to step up voter education and sensitization initiatives and called for intentional and organized grassroots political mobilization.
"Politics is quite delicate. Even when we welcome people, they still come to our house, but we treat them nicely and they're not trash," she remarked.
Additionally, Mrs. Tinubu counseled female politicians to strike a balance between their personal and public obligations.
You are capable of doing both. I've been involved in politics for a good twelve years, and I'm still married. Take good care of and educate your kids.
"The home is the source of all the restlessness we are witnessing." We must ensure that our house is sturdy," she continued.
The First Lady's Renewed Hope Initiative was praised earlier by APC National Women Leader Mary Alile Idele, who also called the party's women's wing one of the nation's most powerful mobilization tools.
According to her, the party's electoral victories have been largely attributed to female leaders in all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, local administrations, and wards.
Idele claims that the rise of recently elected state and zonal female leaders is a sign of the growing trust in women's leadership and fortifies the APC's grassroots organization in preparation for next elections.
The First Lady also presented eight busses to APC women leaders from various regions of the nation at the event.