2027: APC goes digital, begins e-registration nationwide

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially launched a nationwide digital membership registration exercise, aiming to have a comprehensive and up-to-date database of its members ahead of the next general elections.

The initiative underscores the ruling party’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance its internal processes and maintain its position as a leading political force in Nigeria.

Speaking Tuesday’s night during the signing ceremony for the agreement with Tunmef Global Limited, the consultant handling the project, at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for endorsing the digital transformation agenda.

He described the initiative as a long-conceived program that had finally come to fruition.

“We are always making history as a party,” Ganduje declared. “I want to thank Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for approving that we go digital. This program was conceived a long time ago but didn’t see the light of day until now.”

Ganduje emphasized the importance of digitization, particularly in the context of elections and party administration.

He noted that the exercise would provide the APC with accurate and scientific data, which would be crucial for planning and litigation purposes. “Without documentation of this type, we are just beating about the bush,” he said.

“But with this exercise, we are sure of having scientific data which we can always use. During litigation, sometimes you look for a membership list and get a controversial one, which complicates your case in court. With e-registration, we can easily retrieve our data as it is.”

The APC National Chairman also commended the party’s financial independence, which enabled it to sponsor the digital registration exercise. He called on state governors and chapter chairmen to ensure the successful implementation of the project within the stipulated timeframe.

“The implementation of this project is solely on your back,” Ganduje told the governors and state chairmen, adding “I’m happy you are here to see the details and sign the agreement. You are expected to give full cooperation so that we can have our complete data.”

The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Imo ztate, Senator Hope Uzodimma, described the digital registration exercise as a step in the right direction.

Uzodimma said the e-registration exercise would enhance the integrity of the party’s membership register and strengthen its internal democracy.

“If we say we have ten million members, we will know we have ten million members,” he said. “When we go to cast our votes, if we have one million or five hundred thousand persons in Lagos State, we expect that at least within our folds, five hundred thousand persons will vote for us because every political party is driven by ideology.”

The Imo State governor also dismissed concerns about opposition criticism, stating that the APC’s focus was on organizing itself to be a strong and respected party globally.

“We are not afraid of what the opposition will say,” Uzodimma asserted. “Our duty is to organize our party to be respected all over the world. We are expecting elections, and APC is not a party built on a platform that expects no contest. There is no democracy anywhere in the world without contest. Nigerians will decide.”

Providing an overview of the project, the APC National Legal Adviser, Prof. AbdulKareem Kana (SAN), explained that the e-registration exercise would link members’ registration numbers to their National Identity Numbers (NIN). This, he said, would enable the party to access detailed information about its members at the press of a button and from any location. “The party proposed, and it was approved by the governors and the leader of our party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that we convert the membership register of the party to digital form,” Kana stated.

He revealed that Tunmef Global Limited was selected as the consultant for the project after a rigorous selection process. Negotiations were completed, and funds were raised internally by the party to finance the initiative. Kana expressed confidence that the agreement signed with the consultant would protect the interests of both parties and ensure the successful execution of the project. “We have put together an agreement as the legal department which will protect both sides and serve the interest of the party to ensure that the objective is achieved,” he said.

The signing ceremony was attended by some APC governors, including Bassey Otu of Cross River State and Usman Ododo of Kogi State, as well as members of the APC National Working Committee and state chairmen. The governors and party leaders pledged their full support for the digital registration exercise, describing it as a critical step towards consolidating the party’s gains and preparing for future elections.