By Dennis Okechukwu
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has attributed the party’s expanding membership base and electoral strength to its solid internal structures and technology-driven membership system.
Speaking at a public presentation in Abuja on Monday, Yilwatda said the adoption of electronic registration has significantly strengthened the party’s organisation, mobilisation, and internal processes.
According to him, the digital membership register provides accurate and verifiable data on members, including their locations and contact details, enabling efficient communication and planning during elections. He added that the system enhances the credibility of party primaries by ensuring that only duly registered members participate.
“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,” he said.
Yilwatda disclosed that the party’s membership register has been linked with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), a move he said has helped to clean and validate its database, eliminate duplication, and strengthen accountability.
On the ongoing debate over direct and indirect primaries, the APC chairman acknowledged that while direct primaries promote inclusion and a sense of belonging among members, they can also present challenges if poorly managed.
He cautioned that direct primaries could be susceptible to manipulation if safeguards are not in place, stressing that the integrity of the process matters more than the method adopted.
“The key issue is not the method alone, but the integrity of the process,” he said, noting that most political parties in Nigeria tend to favour indirect primaries.
Yilwatda maintained that the APC has demonstrated flexibility by successfully conducting primaries through consensus, direct, and indirect methods, depending on what best preserves party unity.
He cited instances where aspirants agreed on consensus candidates in several states without post-primary litigation, describing it as a rare achievement in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Addressing concerns over increasing defections into the party, the APC chairman dismissed claims that Nigeria is drifting toward a one-party state. He described the movement of politicians from opposition platforms as a natural outcome of political competition and organisational strength.
He said politicians from parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) are joining the APC because they see it as a more viable and organised platform.
The APC currently controls about 31 states and holds a majority in the National Assembly, a development Yilwatda said reflects voter confidence rather than coercion.
On funding, he stressed that the party is sustained by dues and legitimate contributions from its members, noting that the APC does not operate a Board of Trustees because it is owned by its members.
He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to internal democracy, transparency, and continuous reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral and party systems.
The statement was signed by Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to the National Chairman on Media and Communications Strategy, and dated March 2, 2026.