APC claims 13m members, 31 governors ahead of 2027 elections

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has claimed that its estimated 13 million registered members and control of 31 state governments give it a significant organisational advantage over other political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, made the claim 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.

Yilwatda said the party’s nationwide structures, membership database and grassroots network had positioned it strongly to mobilise voters and compete in the forthcoming elections.

“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 disclosed that the party had about 13 million registered members across all local government areas, with records linked to members’ National Identification Numbers and voter identification details for verification.

He also said the party had more than 261,000 executive members across its ward, local government, state and national structures.

Yilwatda cited the party’s representation in elected offices as another indication of its organisational strength, disclosing that the APC had 31 governors, 88 senators and 208 members of the House of Representatives.

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He said the party also had a significant presence in state Houses of Assembly and maintained organised support groups comprising youths, women and persons with disabilities.

The chairman further disclosed that more than 7,000 aspirants contested for various positions under the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, describing the number as evidence of the party’s attractiveness to politicians.

He claimed that the party recorded relatively few court cases after its primaries despite the high number of contestants, attributing the development to efforts to manage internal competition and resolve disputes.

Yilwatda also said the APC had presented candidates for all elective positions it was contesting, inaugurated its campaign council and uploaded its candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.

He urged INEC to adhere strictly to its published electoral timetable, stressing that the rules should apply equally to all political parties.

“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 its claimed numerical advantage, Yilwatda said the APC remained committed to democratic competition and would not use its position to suppress opposition parties.

He said political parties should have equal access to the media, campaign venues and other legitimate opportunities to engage voters.

The chairman cited protests against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including the “Tinubu Must Go” demonstrations, as evidence that citizens and opposition groups could express their views without automatic arrest or intimidation.

He also referred to political realignments following the APC’s defeats in the Anambra and Osun governorship elections as examples of cooperation among political stakeholders after electoral contests.

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

He said the mission would rely on systematic observation, verification and reliable data rather than assumptions.

“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,” Foh said.

The former Sierra Leone vice-president said the mission was engaging political stakeholders to gather information and perspectives on Nigeria’s electoral environment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He commended Yilwatda for the presentation, saying it provided insight into the APC’s membership, organisational structure, internal processes and preparations for the polls.