THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced a sharp surge in its nationwide membership following the rollout of its electronic registration platform, projecting that the party could record between eight and nine million registered members within days—a development that has sparked strong reactions from opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
News Point Nigeria reports that the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists in Abuja, revealing that over two million Nigerians had already registered digitally within one week of the commencement of the exercise.
Basiru said the electronic registration initiative, approved last year by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), was designed to accurately determine the APC’s membership strength nationwide and enhance internal efficiency.
“The NEC is the second most powerful organ of the party, and it gave a directive that before the end of January, all our members must be digitally identified,” Basiru said.
He explained that the online platform allows for real-time monitoring, transparency, and verification, adding that reliable data was critical for a political party focused on mobilisation and consultation.
“As of today, just one week into the exercise—with many states yet to begin in full throttle—we already have over two million APC members who are digitally verified with their names and voter identification numbers,” he stated.
Basiru projected that the number would rise significantly within days.
“By the time we do another assessment next week, we should be in the region of about eight or nine million members, by the grace of God,” he said.
He warned that state coordinators who fail to deliver would be replaced, noting that the National Working Committee (NWC) had been empowered to review and reshuffle coordinators in states where the exercise was lagging.
In Benue State, Governor Hyacinth Alia formally registered as the first APC member in the state, receiving membership number 001 while flagging off the exercise at RCM Primary School, Ihugh, in Vandeikya Local Government Area.
Governor Alia urged party chairmen and ward leaders to mobilise members effectively, noting that registration agents had been deployed across all wards.
He cautioned against actions capable of distorting the process and described his registration as a demonstration of loyalty and acceptance ahead of his re-election bid.
Meanwhile, opposition parties, the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)—have raised alarm, alleging that the APC’s electronic registration exercise is an early strategy to rig the 2027 general elections.
The acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, warned that the ruling party’s claims should be critically scrutinised.
Speaking through her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa, Usman said electoral manipulation often begins long before election day.
“Elections are not rigged on election day; they are rigged months and years ahead,” Asogwa said.
He questioned claims by APC leaders and governors regarding the scale of registrations, citing instances where population figures did not align with the numbers being announced.
“These figures are preparations for rigging the 2027 election. Claiming nine million new members in two weeks is a way of justifying inflated election results later,” he alleged.