Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, surrounded by members of the APC during his revalidation of his APC membership card in Asheri, Badagry, Lagos State, on Friday.
APC E-Registration: A Critical Step for Party Membership
By Raji Rasak
Badagry, Lagos State. Jan. 9, 2026.
Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, has issued a crucial advisory to All Progressives Congress (APC) members across Badagry and Lagos State: ensure your National Identification Number (NIN) is fully updated and linked before attempting the ongoing APC e-registration exercise.
Ogunlende made this urgent call during his own membership revalidation at the APC e-registration centre in Ward A, Asheri, Badagry, on Friday. His advice stems from firsthand experience and widespread reports of technical difficulties hindering the process for many party faithful.
Why the NIN is Now Central to Party Registration
The integration of the NIN into the APC’s digital membership drive is a significant shift. It moves the party’s records from a manual, potentially duplicative system to a centralized, biometric-based database. This linkage serves multiple purposes:
- Eliminating Duplication: It prevents individuals from registering multiple times under different names, ensuring a cleaner and more accurate membership roll.
- Enhancing Security & Verification: Biometric data tied to the NIN provides a higher level of identity verification, crucial for internal party elections and candidate nominations.
- Future-Proofing: A digital, verified database allows for more sophisticated party outreach, communication, and mobilization strategies.
Ogunlende explained that many members in his ward and beyond were experiencing “technical hitches” primarily because their NIN details were incomplete or their phone numbers—a key component of the digital process—were not linked to their NIN profile.
A Commissioner’s Personal Experience: A Lesson for All
In a revealing moment, the commissioner shared his own setback. “I personally encountered a challenge during the exercise after discovering that my phone number was not linked to my NIN,” Ogunlende disclosed. This common issue, often overlooked, can completely halt the e-registration process.
His experience provides a clear, practical roadmap for members:
- First, Visit NIMC: Before heading to the party registration centre, members must go to the nearest National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) office within their local council area to update and verify their NIN details, specifically ensuring their active phone number is linked.
- Then, Proceed to APC Centre: Only after this NIN update should members visit their designated APC registration centre. This sequence saves hours of wasted time in queues only to be turned away for a foundational data issue.
“Although this was a setback,” Ogunlende said, “we have now uploaded all the necessary information, and I hope it will be approved within a few hours so I can complete my registration.”
Timeline and a Call for Calm Participation
The commissioner reminded members that the exercise, which commenced on January 5th, will run until April 17th, 2026. This nearly four-month window is deliberate. “Sufficient time has been provided to resolve any technical issues that might arise,” he assured.
His final message was one of encouragement and clarity: “My message to all APC members in Badagry and Lagos… is that they should go to the NIMC office… and update their NIN. After updating their NIN, they will just go to the nearest centre and revalidate their membership without any challenge. This is part of the expectations of the exercise, and as long as one is able to follow the process, you will be able to complete it.”
Ogunlende commended the people of Badagry for their enthusiastic turnout, viewing the large numbers as a positive sign of party engagement, despite the initial procedural hurdles.
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa
Source: NAN News
