APC’s Murphy Wins Big… With Just 6 Votes – Even His Neighbours Rejected Him

Polling Unit Humbling: APC’s ‘Murphy’ Admits Defeat with Only 6 Votes—Spotlight on Rising Voter Apathy in Ibadan North

In a striking outcome at Ward 10, Unit 27 of the Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election, APC’s Hon. Olatunji Adewale (“Murphy”) secured merely 6 votes, while PDP’s Folajimi Oyekunle garnered 9, with just 17 valid votes cast out of 248 registered voters.

Analysis: What’s Going On?

1. A Measure of Limited Grassroots Reach

Murphy’s paltry vote count—especially within his purported stronghold—suggests a disconnect with his political base. When a candidate only attracts six out of nearly 250 registered voters, it raises serious questions about his local relevance and the efficacy of his campaign outreach.

2. Voter Apathy: A Deepening Social Crisis

This turnout isn't an isolated incident—it reflects a broader national trend of electoral disengagement. In the 2023 general elections, voter participation plummeted to unprecedented lows, with only 26–27% of registered voters turning out, the lowest since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

Since 1999, voter participation has steadily declined:

52.3% in 1999

69% in 2003

57.5% in 2007

53.7% in 2011

43.7% in 2015

34.75% in 2019

~27% in 2023

Experts attribute this trend to systemic issues: growing mistrust in democratic governance, corrupt practices—or a sense that voting doesn’t lead to real change.

Reflection on Political Disillusionment & History

The APC’s declining appeal is palpable. Where once it stood out for promises of reform, many voters blame it for reigniting cycles of misrule, nepotism, and economic hardship.

By contrast, the 2015 elections—which saw a relatively higher turnout (~43.65%)—offered a brief moment of civic optimism, driven by widespread hope in Goodluck Jonathan’s stewardship.

But disillusionment resurged as unmet expectations mounted under APC’s Buhari, coinciding with mounting socio-economic frustrations.

Experts stress that elections should deliver not just routine representation but tangible governance outcomes to sustain voter engagement.

Closing Thought & Engagement Prompt

Could this result—an almost symbolic public rejection of APC at the grassroots—be the wake-up call for Nigerians to reclaim their democratic voice? Share your thoughts: What will it take to reverse this dangerous trend of zero voter turnout?