ABUJA – The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has declared that the party’s estimated 13 million registered members, nationwide grassroots structures and control of key elective positions give it a strong advantage over opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda made the declaration when he received a pre-election fact-finding mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, Victor Bockarie Foh, at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.
The APC National Working Committee (NWC) was also present during the meeting.
Speaking during the engagement, Yilwatda said the ruling party had built a formidable political organisation with a nationwide presence, well-coordinated grassroots structures and a verifiable membership database.
He described the APC as Nigeria’s largest political party, claiming that its membership strength was approximately three times that of the next biggest political party.
According to him, the party has about 13 million registered members across the country’s local government areas, with records supported by membership identity cards linked to members’ National Identification Numbers (NIN) and voter identification details.
He said the database would enhance membership verification, grassroots mobilisation, internal coordination and effective electoral planning.
The APC chairman also disclosed that the party had more than 261,000 executive members across its ward, local government, state and national structures.
Yilwatda identified the party’s numerical strength in elected positions as another indication of its nationwide acceptance, claiming that the APC has 31 governors, 88 senators and 208 members of the House of Representatives.
He added that the party also commands significant representation in state Houses of Assembly, alongside organised support groups comprising women, youths and persons with disabilities.
“These structures are the foundation of our strength. We have built an organisation that reaches every part of the country and gives us the capacity to engage Nigerians across different demographics,” he said.
On the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections, Yilwatda revealed that more than 7,000 aspirants contested for various positions on the APC platform.
He said the large number of aspirants demonstrated the attractiveness of the party and the confidence politicians had in its platform.
Despite the intense competition, he maintained that the party had recorded relatively few post-primary litigations, attributing the development to efforts to manage internal disagreements and resolve disputes.
The APC chairman further noted that some aspirants who failed to secure the party’s tickets had moved to opposition platforms, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
He described the development as evidence of the intense competition for APC tickets.
Yilwatda also said the party had presented candidates for all elective positions it was contesting in the 2027 elections, released and inaugurated its campaign council, commenced campaign activities and uploaded its candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.
He urged INEC to adhere strictly to its published electoral timetable, insisting that all political parties must be treated equally.
“We believe INEC should stick to its timetable. The rules must apply equally to every political party. The electoral process must be fair, transparent and predictable, without adjusting deadlines in a manner that gives any party an undue advantage,” he said.
Despite expressing confidence in the APC’s electoral strength, Yilwatda assured the ECOWAS delegation that the party would not use its position as the ruling party to undermine opposition parties or restrict democratic participation.
He said opposition parties should have equal access to the media, campaign venues and other legitimate opportunities to present their programmes to Nigerians.
Citing public protests against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including the “Tinubu Must Go” demonstrations, he argued that citizens and opposition groups remained free to express dissenting views without intimidation.
“Being the largest political party does not mean that we want to suppress anybody. We want a democratic environment in which every party can organise, campaign and seek the support of Nigerians without fear,” he said.
The APC chairman also recalled that his party had experienced electoral defeats in previous elections, particularly in Anambra and Osun states, noting that such setbacks did not prevent it from engaging other political stakeholders.
He said subsequent political engagements and realignments had helped strengthen broader alliances and cooperation in support of President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Earlier, the head of the ECOWAS mission, Foh, said the delegation was in Nigeria to assess the political environment ahead of the 2027 general elections and contribute to efforts towards ensuring free, fair and transparent polls.
He explained that the mission’s assessment would be based on systematic observation, verification and reliable data rather than assumptions or arbitrary conclusions.
“Our monitoring is scientific, and our decisions on issues are based on scientific observation. We verify information before making any pronouncement, and we use a robust application system to collect data. Our reports are therefore not arbitrary,” Foh said.
He added that the delegation was engaging political parties and other relevant stakeholders to obtain first-hand information on the country’s electoral environment.
Foh commended Yilwatda for providing detailed information on the APC’s membership strength, organisational structure, internal processes and preparations for the forthcoming elections.
He expressed optimism that the engagement would give the mission a better understanding of Nigeria’s political landscape and contribute to its assessment of the country’s readiness for the 2027 general elections.