By Joy Odor
Nigeria’s ruling party has taken a decisive step to digitise its political machinery, rolling out a nationwide electronic membership registration exercise aimed at validating existing members, onboarding new entrants and tightening internal party records ahead of future electoral cycles.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, announced that the e-registration exercise is currently underway across all wards in the federation, including Delta State and the Federal Capital Territory.
The exercise, party officials say, marks a significant shift from paper-based membership systems toward a technology-driven approach designed to strengthen internal democracy and improve organisational efficiency.
Under the programme, existing APC members are required to validate their membership details, while new and intending members are encouraged to register and formally join the party.
Participation is open to Nigerians aged 18 and above who possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN), a requirement that underscores the party’s emphasis on data integrity and verifiable identity.
According to Morka, the electronic registration is more than a routine update.
It is a strategic overhaul of the APC’s membership architecture, aimed at digitising the party register, eliminating duplication and ghost entries, and providing accurate data to support planning, mobilisation and decision-making at all levels of the party.
Party insiders say the move reflects growing recognition within the APC that credible membership records are critical to managing primaries, resolving internal disputes and strengthening grassroots engagement.
By anchoring the process on ward-level participation, the party is seeking to balance national coordination with local ownership.
Beyond internal management, the APC is positioning the initiative as part of a broader commitment to democratic innovation in Nigeria’s political system.
The adoption of electronic tools, officials argue, aligns with global trends in party administration and signals readiness to modernise political participation.
The timing is also strategic. With political realignments already underway across several states, the digital registration drive is expected to sharpen the party’s understanding of its support base, particularly among young voters and first-time registrants.
As the exercise gathers momentum nationwide, party leaders are urging stakeholders, supporters and members both old and new to participate fully, describing the process as a gateway into what the APC calls Nigeria’s “progressive family.”
Whether the e-registration drive ultimately reshapes internal party dynamics remains to be seen, but for now, the ruling party has sent a clear signal: in the battle for political relevance and organisational control, data is becoming as important as ideology.
