By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday unveiled a recalibrated political timetable that places its National Convention at the centre of preparations for 2026, followed by party congresses nationwide and an extended membership e-registration drive, signalling an aggressive push to consolidate its dominance ahead of key political battles.
Rising from its 183rd National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Abuja, the ruling party fixed its National Convention for March 27–28, 2026, setting the tone for internal realignment, leadership validation and strategic repositioning.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, APC National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Felix Morka, said the convention would be coordinated by a newly approved committee, whose full composition and leadership would be made public on Monday.
According to him, the convention will serve as the anchor of the party’s 2026 roadmap, defining the organisational direction of the APC at a time of rapid expansion and deepening digital reforms.
Following the convention announcement, the NWC confirmed that party congresses will hold nationwide on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, with notable exceptions.
Morka disclosed that Osun State, Ekiti State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were exempted due to pending elections, while Rivers State was excluded because the tenure of executives elected during its off-cycle congress last year is still subsisting.
“The party must respect both the electoral calendar and its own constitutional timelines,” Morka said, adding that congresses in the affected states would be scheduled after the conclusion of elections or the expiration of existing tenures.
He dismissed speculation linking the Rivers exclusion to the political crisis, insisting the decision was purely procedural.
On membership mobilisation, the APC announced the extension of its ongoing e-registration exercise from January 31 to February 8, 2026, citing overwhelming response and sustained demand from party members across the country.
Contrary to claims of poor participation, the party said the extension was necessitated by pressure from governors and state chapters seeking more time to capture thousands of willing registrants.
“The e-registration exercise has been tremendously successful. The figures we previously released have already been surpassed,” Morka said.
Interjecting during the briefing, party officials disclosed that APC membership had crossed seven million, with projections pointing to over 12.5 million registered members by the close of the exercise.
National Secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said the digital registration process reflects APC’s commitment to innovation, transparency and legal compliance.
He explained that the requirement for registrants to provide names and Voter Identification Numbers (VIN) was deliberate, noting that political participation must be anchored on voter eligibility and credible data.
“You cannot claim membership of a political party without being a registered voter. The ultimate expression of party loyalty is the ability to vote,” Basiru said.
He added that APC’s digital reforms now extend to online applications for party congresses, a first in Nigeria’s political history.
With its convention fixed, congresses scheduled and membership drive surging, the APC appears set to enter 2026 with renewed organisational muscle, betting big on numbers, structure and technology to maintain its grip on power.
