APC secretary faults opposition over INEC digital membership register deadline
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru, has criticised opposition parties for protesting the April 2, 2026 deadline set for the submission of comprehensive digital membership registers
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru, has criticised opposition parties for protesting the April 2, 2026 deadline set for the submission of comprehensive digital membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Nation recalls that under the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, political parties are required to submit their complete digital membership registers as part of the conditions for participation in the 2027 general election.
Speaking on Saturday during the distribution of identity cards to members of the Alubarika Movement across Osun State at Alekuwodo in Osogbo, Basiru said opposition parties should stop complaining about the 21-day timeline.
He maintained that the requirement for digital registration is not new, explaining that membership data has long been expected to be linked with the National Identity Number (NIN).
“The rule about registration is very clear. Even before the amendment of the Electoral Act, every data was expected to be linked with the NIN. That was why when the APC began its digital registration, we insisted that it must be tied to the NIN,” he said.
Basiru added that by the time the party concluded its digital registration exercise, it had captured about 12 million Nigerians, with the records properly linked to their NIN.
“We find it very strange that any political party would be complaining that they don't have a register of members, or that the time for registration of members is too short, because under the old law, there's actually a requirement for the register of members to be submitted 30 days.”
He noted that the new Electoral Act reduce the time from 30 days to 21 days.
“So it's actually very strange. It appears that the opposition party are not ready to contest the election and if they are not so ready, rather than banalizing and creating unnecessary names for established institutions, they could, I mean, opt to boycott the election if they are not ready.”
The APC scribe warned party structures across the country against imposition of candidate for General election, affirming that only popular members should clinch party tickets.
“Our party is now large, so my advice, and which of course I'm also advising the party as national secretary, is that we should create a level playing ground so that there can be free fair contest at the primary.
“So anybody that wins and will lose, we also know that they win and lose according to the acceptability by members of the party.”
