 | (Illustrative image) A large political rally
with supporters waving flags under bright lights. |
The All Progressives Congress (APC) says its 13 million registered members, 31 governors and more than 261,000 executive members give it an advantage over other political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
What the party chairman said National chairman Nentawe Yilwatda made the claim as the party positions itself for the 2027 cycle. Punch reports that the chairman cited the party's elected and appointed executive structures from ward to national level, with more than 261,000 executive members, 31 governors out of 36, 88 senators out of 109 and 208 members of the House of Representatives. Daily Champion, PM News and Voice of Nigeria all carried the claim, which came days after the party inaugurated a campaign council in Cross River State, part of a rolling wave of early mobilisation across states. How the numbers hold up The membership figure is a self-reported number, and Nigerian party membership registers have long been criticised for containing inflated or unverified counts. No independent audit of the 13 million figure exists, and past claims by both major parties have rarely survived scrutiny at the ballot box, where actual turnout has run far below claimed rolls. Voters should read the number as a confidence statement, not a verified count. The office-count numbers, by contrast, are checkable and impressive: 31 of 36 governorships, 88 of 109 Senate seats and 208 of 360 House seats is genuine dominance of the federal structure, and it explains why the party projects certainty about 2027 despite the opposition coalition gathering around the African Democratic Congress. The opposition's challenge The claim lands in a contest where the main opposition is still assembling itself. The ADC coalition featuring Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi's camp is still working through candidate questions and zoning disputes, while the APC's early mobilisation, from membership drives to campaign council inaugurations, is designed to lock in incumbency advantages before the opposition finishes organising. Atiku has meanwhile condemned attacks on opposition figures, including an attack on Sowore in Ekiti and on the Sokoto ADC governorship candidate, framing the environment for opposition campaigning as a live concern. The APC's structural numbers and the opposition's cohesion problem will both shape 2027 more than any single speech. What it means for voters For ordinary voters, the practical question is whether a party this dominant delivers visible improvement by 2027, because structural advantage can evaporate when inflation, insecurity and unemployment dominate household experience. The 2027 elections will be fought on the economy as much as on organisation. Early mobilisation also signals that primaries and internal contests within the APC will be fierce, as aspirants position for tickets from state assemblies to the presidency. Expect the membership register to become a weapon in those internal fights, with claims and counter-claims about who controls delegates. Sources: This report was verified against Punch (punchng.com), Daily Champion (championnews.com.ng), PM News (pmnewsnigeria.com) and Voice of Nigeria (von.gov.ng), each independently reporting the chairman's claims and the office counts. Frequently asked questions How many members does the APC claim? 13 million registered members, according to national chairman Nentawe Yilwatda. How many governors does the APC have? 31 of Nigeria's 36 state governors, the party says. Is the 13 million membership figure verified? No. It is a party self-report; Nigerian party membership rolls have historically been unaudited and inflated. When are Nigeria's next general elections? The 2027 general elections, with the presidential and National Assembly polls expected early in the year. |
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