The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has credited the party’s growing membership base and electoral competitiveness to its solid internal structures, technology-driven membership system, and transparent administration.
The Special Adviser to the National Chairman of the APC on Media and Communications Strategy, Mr. Abimbola Tooki, said in a statement that the National Chairman made the remarks while speaking at a public presentation in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Professor Yilwatda said the party’s adoption of electronic registration has significantly strengthened its organisation and mobilisation capacity across the country.
According to him, the digital register provides accurate and verifiable data on members, including their locations and contact details, enabling efficient communication, planning, and electioneering.
He added that the system has improved the credibility of party primaries by ensuring that only duly registered members participate in the process.
“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 effectively and conduct more credible primaries,” he said.
The APC chairman further disclosed that the party’s membership database has been linked to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), a move he said has helped cleanse and validate the register, eliminate duplication, and strengthen internal accountability.
Party Primaries
On the debate surrounding direct and indirect primaries, Yilwatda noted that while direct primaries promote inclusiveness and give members a strong sense of participation, they also come with operational challenges if not properly managed.
He warned that poorly handled direct primaries could open the door to manipulation and the “colonisation” of delegates, limiting voters’ ability to make independent choices.
“This is why Nigerians should interrogate why almost all political parties tend to favour indirect primaries. The issue is not just the method, but the integrity of the process,” he stated.
Yilwatda noted that the APC remains flexible and has successfully conducted primaries through consensus, direct, and indirect methods, depending on what best promotes unity and internal democracy.
He cited instances where aspirants in several states agreed on consensus candidates without post-primary litigation, describing the feat as rare in Nigeria’s political landscape.
He also noted that the party’s presidential primaries were conducted using the direct primary system.
Addressing concerns over the influx of defectors into the APC, the chairman dismissed claims that the country is drifting toward a one-party state.
He argued that the movement of politicians from opposition platforms into the APC reflects political competition and organisational strength.
“It is natural in politics. Many parties are struggling, and their members want a viable platform. They see the APC as the most organised option,” he said.
He added that the party’s governance record, mobilisation structure, and internal management have made it attractive to politicians from across the spectrum, including members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party.
The APC currently controls about 31 governorship seats and maintains a majority in the National Assembly. Yilwatda said this dominance reflects voter confidence rather than coercion or exclusion.
On party funding, he stressed that the APC is owned and sustained by its members through dues and legitimate contributions, noting that the party does not operate a Board of Trustees structure.
“APC belongs to its members. Our funding comes from membership dues and lawful contributions, and that gives members true ownership,” he said.
Professor Yilwatda reaffirmed the party’s commitment to internal democracy, transparency, and continuous reform of Nigeria’s electoral and party systems, describing the APC as a model of effective political organisation and governance.