The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has issued a warning to state coordinators involved in the party’s electronic membership registration initiative, stating that they must register every party member or risk being removed from their positions.
He delivered this message during a meeting with state registration coordinators at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Monday.
The coordinators are primarily the state organising secretaries, except in instances where they have not been trained for this role.
Prof. Yilwatda emphasized the significance of the registration exercise, which is set to conclude on January 30, 2026, for the party’s future.
He noted that electronic registration is not merely a technological advancement but a crucial political reform that will enhance the party’s credibility, discipline, mobilization, and electoral success.
He highlighted that the role of a coordinator is a serious responsibility rather than a ceremonial one, insisting that any coordinator who fails to register all party members in their state will be replaced.
He referred to the coordinators as the party’s foot soldiers and stated that robust party structures at the state and grassroots levels are essential for electoral victories.
He pointed out that elections are won at the ward, local government, constituency, and state levels, not solely at the national secretariat.
Prof. Yilwatda cautioned against discrepancies where a state claims to have millions of APC members but receives very few votes in elections, labeling such situations as unacceptable.
He mentioned that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has provided support to ensure the success of the registration exercise and will enforce compliance as necessary.
Additionally, he warned that any member of the State Executive Committee who fails to register before the deadline will be removed from their position, asserting that the NEC has the constitutional authority to take such actions.
He urged state party chairmen to fully support the coordinators and clarified that no one, including governors, has the authority to prevent any APC member from being registered.
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To expedite the process, he instructed coordinators to utilize Android phones where tablets are unavailable and advised states not to postpone the exercise due to device shortages.
He also encouraged states to cut costs by recruiting registration officials from within their wards.
In an update, Prof. Yilwatda reported that Delta State is currently leading the registration effort, followed by Lagos, Kebbi, Adamawa, and Plateau States, and mentioned that progress will be reassessed in five days.
He connected the electronic registration initiative to President Bola Tinubu’s reforms, asserting that the APC must adopt modernization and accountability.
He stated that the exercise will provide the party with a reliable and real-time membership database, enhance internal democracy, prevent fraud, and ensure the proper allocation of party resources.
In response, the state coordinators commended the APC chairman for his leadership and pledged to successfully complete the exercise before the deadline.
