By Adepote Arowojobe
Ikorodu, Lagos State. January 5, 2026.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikorodu Local Government Area has officially launched a comprehensive electronic membership registration drive, marking a significant shift from analogue to digital party management. This initiative is a critical component of a broader national strategy to modernize political party operations, enhance data-driven decision-making, and deepen internal democracy.
The formal distribution of registration materials to designated ward agents commenced on Monday at the party’s secretariat in the Ota-Ona area. The exercise is slated to cover all 30 wards within the council, utilizing technology kits that include iPads, portable printers, and paper reams.
Beyond Logistics: A Strategic Overhaul
While the distribution of gadgets is the visible step, the underlying strategy is more profound. As explained by Mr. Olasunkanmi Tijani, the APC Ikorodu Divisional Chairman, the approach is a granular, community-based sweep. The process is “gazetted” to start at the ward level, ensuring local legitimacy, before moving systematically to zones and then streets.
“This isn’t just about signing up existing members,” Tijani elaborated. “By taking the registration to the zones and streets, we engage directly with communities. We will be surprised to discover more supporters than our records indicate. It’s a strategy for organic growth and accurate data capture.” This method acknowledges Ikorodu’s strategic importance, as the LGA delivered some of the highest vote totals for the APC across legislative, gubernatorial, and presidential elections in the 2023 general cycle.
Addressing Challenges and Capitalizing on Momentum
Key party leaders highlighted both the potential and the practical hurdles of the digital transition. Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, confirmed the gadgets are certified and functional, identifying network connectivity as the primary operational challenge. He framed the 25-day registration window as an opportunity to capitalize on growing public interest.
“The platform responds to a visible eagerness among Nigerians to identify with the APC’s programmes and reforms,” Ogunleye stated. His sentiment was echoed by Olorunfunmi Bashorun, former Secretary to the Lagos State Government, who connected the exercise directly to improved democratic dividends, suggesting that a larger, formally registered membership base strengthens the party’s mandate and accountability.
The move to e-registration is not merely administrative. It aims to solve chronic issues of membership inflation, ghost members, and inefficient communication. A verified digital database allows for targeted policy dissemination, streamlined mobilization for primaries, and a more transparent membership structure—cornerstones of genuine internal democracy.
Grassroots Implementation and Future Implications
The success of such a initiative hinges on its grassroots agents. Mr. Ezekiel Folorunsho, one of the trained registration agents, expressed gratitude for the commencement after extensive training sessions. His advice to colleagues to handle the gadgets with care underscores the practical realities of deploying technology in varied field conditions.
If successful, the Ikorodu pilot could serve as a model for nationwide rollout, setting a new standard for how political parties in Nigeria engage with and manage their constituencies. The 25-day exercise will be a critical test of logistical planning, technological resilience, and the party’s actual pull at the community level, with results likely to influence campaign strategies and resource allocation for future elections.
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz. Source: NAN News.
