The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has attributed the party’s growing electoral strength and expanding membership base to its technology-driven registration system.
APC National Chairman, as contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, on Monday, noted that the adoption of electronic membership has enhanced internal organisation, improved transparency, and strengthened mobilisation ahead of elections.
On February 13, the INEC initially scheduled the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, February 20, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for Saturday, March 6, 2027.
The dates, however, drew objections from some Muslim stakeholders who noted that they coincided with the 2027 Ramadan period.
Following the concerns, the Nigerian Senate amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, reducing the compulsory election notice period from 360 days to 300 days, thereby allowing INEC to adjust the timetable.
INEC later released a revised schedule on Thursday, endorsed by its Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, moving the Presidential and National Assembly elections to January 16, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections to February 6, 2027.
Under the updated timetable, political parties are required to submit a detailed digital membership register by April 2, 2026, a provision some stakeholders argue may place opposition parties at a disadvantage.
The ruling party began its nationwide electronic membership registration in January and concluded the exercise on February 8.
Yilwatda stated that the digital register provides the party with precise and verifiable information about its members, including their addresses and contact details, which supports efficient communication, mobilisation, and election planning.
He added that the system strengthens the integrity of party primaries by ensuring that only properly registered members are eligible to take part.
The statement read: “Our electronic registration gives us real-time access to our members. We know who they are, where they live, and how to reach them. This allows us to mobilise efficiently and conduct better, more credible primaries.
“Professor Yilwatda explained that the APC has linked its membership register to the National Identity Management Commission, a move he said has helped to clean and validate the party’s database, eliminate duplication, and improve internal accountability.
He said, “The APC chairman clarified that while direct primaries give party members a strong sense of belonging and participation, they are not without challenges.
“He cautioned that direct primaries, if poorly managed, can lead to the manipulation and colonisation of delegates, limiting voters’ ability to freely vote according to their conscience.
“This is why Nigerians should interrogate why almost all political parties tend to favour indirect primaries. The key issue is not the method alone, but the integrity of the process.”
He emphasised that the APC stands out for its adaptability, having effectively held primaries via consensus, direct, and indirect methods, choosing whichever approach best promotes party unity and internal democracy.
Yilwatda highlighted that the party has secured uncommon consensus results in several states without facing post-primary legal disputes.
“We have had situations where all aspirants agreed on a single candidate through consensus. No other party in Nigeria has managed that without ending up in court. Even our presidential primaries were conducted using direct primaries”, he stated.
Responding to worries over the recent surge of defections to the APC, Yilwatda rejected suggestions that Nigeria is heading toward a one-party system.
He explained that politicians joining the APC from opposition parties is a normal result of political rivalry and the party’s organisational effectiveness.
“It is fair because many of those parties are already dying. Their members want to survive politically, and they see the APC as the most organised platform. Just like in a market, people choose what works best,” APC National Chairman said.
