The All Progressives Congress, APC, says it has digitally verified more than two million members nationwide, one week into its ongoing electronic membership re-registration exercise.
This was disclosed on Monday after a meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, with state coordinators of the e-registration exercise at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Briefing journalists, the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, said the exercise was approved by the party’s National Executive Council, NEC, at its December meeting and was aimed at strengthening the party’s internal organisation and operational efficiency.
Basiru said the NEC, which he described as the second most powerful organ of the party, directed that all APC members must be digitally registered before the end of January.
He explained that the meeting, chaired by the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, also had in attendance senior members of the NWC, state coordinators of the exercise, the Chairman of the APC State Chairmen Forum, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, and the Secretary of the forum, who is also the Taraba State APC Chairman.
“The National Chairman charged state coordinators to ensure that the exercise is in full throttle before the end of the week,” Basiru said, adding that coordinators who fail to deliver risk being replaced.
“As of today, just one week into the exercise, and with many states yet to commence fully, we already have in excess of two million Nigerians digitally verified as members of the APC, with their National Identification Numbers and voter registration numbers captured,” he said.
Basiru added that the party expects the figure to rise to between eight and nine million members following another assessment scheduled for next week.
He said the e-registration exercise underscores the importance of data to effective management, mobilisation and organisation of a political party, noting that the APC relies heavily on data-driven planning.
Addressing concerns about accessibility, Basiru said registration is being conducted at the ward level nationwide, with multiple registration officers deployed depending on ward size.
“We have onboarded personnel in all political wards across Nigeria, with some wards having between 10 and 15 registration officers to ensure easy access for members,” he said.
He added that while the process is online-based, special arrangements had been made for areas affected by insecurity or poor internet connectivity.
“In such areas, data of intending members will be captured manually and uploaded in locations with network access, ensuring that no member is excluded because of security or connectivity challenges,” Basiru said.
Responding to questions on previous registration exercises, the APC National Secretary said the current process represents a fresh start for the party.
“This is a new testament. We are not dwelling on the old testament. The advantage of the present registration is that it is fully digital, allows real-time data assessment and ensures data integrity,” he said.
Basiru explained that members cannot register without a valid National Identification Number linked to their phone number and a voter identification number, a measure designed to prevent fictitious entries.
He added that the exercise would strengthen the party’s mobilisation capacity and support the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
