APC Says 13 Million Members, Political Structures Position Party for 2027 Polls

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has claimed that its estimated 13 million registered members and extensive nationwide organisational structure give it a significant advantage over other political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, disclosed this while receiving a pre-election fact-finding mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by former Sierra Leone Vice-President, Victor Bockarie Foh, at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja over the weekend.

Yilwatda, who received the delegation alongside members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), said the APC’s political strength was built on its membership database, grassroots structures, elected representatives and internal organisational processes.

According to him, the party has approximately 13 million registered members across all local government areas in Nigeria, with membership records and identity cards designed to support verification through members’ National Identification Numbers (NIN) and voter identification details.

“Our party is the largest political party in Nigeria. In terms of structure, organisation and membership, no other political party comes close to us. We are approximately three times larger than the next political party in the country,” he said.

The APC chairman also disclosed that the party has more than 261,000 executive members operating across its ward, local government, state and national structures.

He said the network enables the party to maintain contact with members and supporters at the grassroots while coordinating political activities and campaign strategies nationwide.

On its representation in elected offices, Yilwatda said the APC has 31 governors out of Nigeria’s 36 states, 88 senators in the 109-member Senate and 208 members of the House of Representatives out of 360 seats.

He added that the party also has a significant presence in state Houses of Assembly, as well as organised support groups representing women, youths and persons with disabilities.

The chairman maintained that the combination of its political structures, elected officials and support groups provides the party with an extensive network for mobilising Nigerians across different demographics.

Yilwatda further disclosed that more than 7,000 aspirants contested for various positions under the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He described the number of aspirants as an indication of the party’s attractiveness to politicians and the level of competition surrounding its nomination process.

Despite the large number of contestants, he said the party had recorded relatively few post-primary court cases compared with the scale of the contests, attributing this to its efforts to manage internal disagreements.

He also noted that some politicians who failed to secure APC tickets subsequently obtained tickets from opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

On its preparations for the elections, Yilwatda said the APC had presented candidates for all elective positions it was contesting in 2027.

He added that the party had released and inaugurated its campaign council, commenced campaign activities and uploaded its candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal ahead of its rivals.

The APC chairman, however, called on INEC to adhere strictly to its published electoral timetable, stressing that all political parties should be subjected to the same rules.

“We believe INEC should stick to its timetable. The rules must apply equally to every political party. The electoral process must be fair, transparent and predictable, without adjusting deadlines in a manner that gives any party an undue advantage,” he said.

Despite highlighting the APC’s numerical and organisational strength, Yilwatda said the party remained committed to democratic competition and would not use its position to suppress opposition parties.

He insisted that all political parties should have equal access to the media, campaign venues and other legitimate opportunities to present their programmes to Nigerians.

Citing public demonstrations against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, including the “Tinubu Must Go” protests, he argued that citizens and opposition groups should be able to express their views without automatic arrest or intimidation.

“Being the largest political party does not mean that we want to suppress anybody. We want a democratic environment in which every party can organise, campaign and seek the support of Nigerians without fear,” he said.

Yilwatda also recalled that the APC had experienced electoral defeats in the past, noting that the party had subsequently engaged political stakeholders and pursued cooperation where common interests existed.

He cited political realignments following the party’s defeats in the Anambra and Osun governorship elections as examples of how electoral competition could lead to subsequent political engagement and collaboration.

According to him, such engagements had contributed to broader political alliances and cooperation in support of President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Earlier, the head of the ECOWAS delegation, Victor Bockarie Foh, said the mission was conducting a political assessment to contribute to the organisation of free, fair and transparent elections in Nigeria.

Foh explained that the mission’s assessment would be based on systematic observation, verification and reliable data rather than assumptions or arbitrary conclusions.

“Our monitoring is scientific, and our decisions on issues are based on scientific observation. We verify information before making any pronouncement, and we use a robust application system to collect data. Our reports are therefore not arbitrary,” he said.

He added that the delegation was engaging relevant political stakeholders to gather information and perspectives that would help it assess Nigeria’s political environment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Foh commended Yilwatda for providing detailed information about the APC’s organisational structure, membership strength, internal processes and preparations for the forthcoming elections.

He expressed confidence that the engagement would contribute to the mission’s understanding of the country’s political landscape and the conditions under which the 2027 elections would be conducted.

The meeting was attended by the APC National Chairman and members of the party’s National Working Committee.

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