First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has urged women leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and focus on building trust with voters, stressing that electoral success is driven more by numbers than by gender considerations.
She made the remarks on Monday while hosting APC women leaders from across Nigeria at the State House in Abuja, where she emphasised the importance of sustained engagement with constituents for political relevance and success.
“Politics is not about gender; it’s about number. If you don’t connect with the grassroots, you can’t win their trust,” she said.
The First Lady explained that holding political office requires continuous interaction with the electorate, noting that leaders who lose touch with their base often struggle to maintain relevance.
Drawing from her experience as a former senator, Mrs Tinubu recalled that she maintained consistent engagement with her constituents through regular town hall meetings during her eight years in the Senate.
“I connect with the grassroots. I am still the only woman on record who has ever done town hall meeting every quarter. I did that consecutively for good eight years,” she said.
She cautioned that many politicians become disconnected from the people after assuming office, warning that such distance weakens political support over time.
“You have to connect with them. If I find it difficult to reach out to you as an office holder, how do you want your constituents to reach out to you?” she asked.
Mrs Tinubu also stressed the importance of trust in political organisation, saying strong relationships between leaders and supporters are essential for electoral success.
“You have to build trust and connection. Once it’s not there, you can’t win,” she said.
She further called for more structured and deliberate mobilisation at the grassroots level, urging APC women leaders to intensify voter education and civic sensitisation efforts across communities.
“Politics is very, very sensitive. People come to our home even when we do invite them, but when they come, we treat them well, they are not trash,” she said.
The First Lady also encouraged women in politics to balance public service with family responsibilities, noting that both roles can be successfully managed with discipline and support.
“You can do both. I’ve played politics for 12 good years and I still have a husband. Take care of your children, train them well,” she said.
She added that challenges in society often reflect weaknesses within the family structure, urging stronger attention to home-building.
“All this restlessness we are seeing around stems from the home. We have to make sure that our home is solid,” she said.
Earlier, APC National Women Leader Mary Idele praised Mrs Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative, describing the party’s women’s wing as a key pillar of its nationwide mobilisation structure.
She noted that women leaders across states, local government areas and wards have played a central role in the party’s electoral performance, adding that new leadership structures at state and zonal levels are further strengthening the organisation ahead of future elections.
The event also featured the presentation of eight buses to APC women leaders from different geopolitical zones, a move aimed at improving coordination and grassroots outreach activities.
