By Segun Giwa
Akure, Dec. 29, 2025
In a strategic move to modernize its operations, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa officially launched the All Progressives Congress (APC) electronic membership registration exercise on Monday. The event, which doubled as a training session for party officials in Akure, underscores a pivotal shift from manual, paper-based systems to a centralized digital framework for Nigeria’s ruling party.
Governor Aiyedatiwa framed the initiative as non-negotiable for the party’s future, stating it is “critical to the growth, credibility and future planning” of the APC. He elaborated that this is not merely an administrative update but a foundational step to transform how the party engages with its members, plans campaigns, and conducts internal elections.
Beyond Paper: The Strategic Imperative of a Digital Roll
The governor’s remarks highlighted several core benefits of the e-registration drive, providing deeper context to its significance:
- Credibility and Internal Democracy: Aiyedatiwa stressed that mobilization must be based on “influence and encouragement rather than coercion.” This points to a common challenge in Nigerian politics: inflated membership figures and “ghost” members used to manipulate party primaries and congresses. A verified digital database is designed to combat this, creating a more transparent and credible foundation for internal elections. As the APC National Vice-Chairman (South-West), Mr. Isaac Kekemeke, later noted, this credible data is essential “ahead of future congresses and primary elections.”
- Operational Equalization and Planning: The governor explained the exercise would bring “equalisation,” as all members would be registered under the same framework and timeline. This eliminates disparities between states and local chapters, allowing the national party to have a real-time, accurate picture of its strength. With reliable data, the party can plan logistics, allocate resources, and tailor messaging based on the actual demographics and distribution of its membership.
- Alignment with National Vision: Aiyedatiwa directly linked the project to President Bola Tinubu’s long-standing vision, indicating this is a priority initiative from the highest level of the party. This top-down endorsement is crucial for driving compliance and resource allocation across all party strata.
Practical Execution and Deadlines
The exercise is set to run until January 31, 2026, giving officials a little over a month to capture members. Governor Aiyedatiwa urged officials to register both new members and those previously registered manually, emphasizing the need for a complete and singular database. He personally committed to leading by example, a move meant to encourage widespread participation.
In his welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters and Party Affairs, Mr. Babatunde Kolawole, provided the technical rationale. He stated the database aims to “eliminate phantom entries, ensure accurate membership records and enhance transparency and accountability.” This directly addresses long-standing issues of fraud and opacity in party membership management.
A Broader Shift to a Data-Driven Political Culture
Perhaps the most insightful comment from Aiyedatiwa connected the exercise to broader global trends: “Since information, education, skills and ICT have now become the drivers of modern economies, they should also be applied to manage party affairs effectively.” This acknowledges that political parties must evolve into data-driven institutions to remain relevant and effective. A clean database enables targeted voter outreach, efficient fundraising, and evidence-based policy formulation that resonates with the registered membership base.
Mr. Isaac Kekemeke echoed this, urging trainees to be diligent in the “technology-driven” exercise. The success of the initiative hinges not just on the software but on the accuracy and integrity of the data input by officials at the grassroots level.
The flag-off in Ondo State, led by a sitting governor, signals the APC’s serious intent to institutionalize this process. If successfully implemented nationwide, the e-registration could mark a turning point in Nigerian intra-party democracy, replacing opaque, factionalized record-keeping with a unified system that strengthens the party’s structure from the bottom up. The deadline of January 31, 2026, now sets a clear timeline for this ambitious digital transformation.
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq
Source: NAN
