A survey of 12,480 young people across universities and polytechnics in all five South-East states has found that feelings of political marginalization, economic hardship, social media influence, historical regional political alignment, and inadequate grassroots engagement are the primary factors shaping negative perceptions of the All Progressives Congress among the region’s youth population, with the findings warning that failure to urgently address these drivers could deepen distrust and create durable voter resistance in a demographic of growing electoral significance.
The research, conducted between March and May 2026 by South East Youth for Progressives across 29 universities and nine polytechnics in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states, surveyed undergraduates, young graduates, entrepreneurs, job seekers, NYSC members, and first-time voters aged 18 to 35.
Research Coordinator Ugah Chukwuemeka said the findings showed that 34 percent of respondents believed the South-East remained politically marginalized at the national level, while 27 percent identified worsening economic conditions, including unemployment, inflation, and declining living standards, as their primary reason for losing confidence in the ruling party. A further 16 percent said their political views were heavily shaped by negative social media narratives about the APC, 11 percent cited historical regional political culture, 8 percent pointed to insufficient grassroots youth engagement by the party, and 4 percent identified unresolved education and welfare concerns.
The report said a significant finding was that many respondents did not oppose the APC on the basis of detailed policy disagreements but on feelings of exclusion, lack of visible opportunity, limited representation, and the perception that government programs had no tangible impact on their daily lives. A substantial proportion struggled to identify specific government initiatives that had positively affected them or their immediate communities, meaning their political opinions were being formed primarily through secondary sources and social media rather than personal experience with governance.
The report urged the party to reconnect urgently and substantively with South-East youth, warning that the combination of demographic growth and deepening political alienation could translate into a structural electoral challenge that would be difficult to reverse if left unaddressed.
