National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Nentawe Yilwatda says the party’s internal structures and electronic membership system are responsible for its growth and performance in elections.
Chairman Yilwatda spoke on Monday in Abuja during a public presentation, where he said the adoption of electronic registration has strengthened the party’s organisation and mobilisation.
“Our electronic registration gives us real-time access to our members. We know who they are, where they live, and how to reach them. This allows us to mobilise efficiently and conduct better, more credible primaries,” he said.
He explained that the party’s membership register has been linked to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to validate data, remove duplication and improve accountability.
On the debate over direct and indirect primaries, Yilwatda said direct primaries give members a sense of participation but can face challenges if not properly managed.
“This is why Nigerians should interrogate why almost all political parties tend to favour indirect primaries,” he said. “The key issue is not the method alone, but the integrity of the process.”
He said the APC has used consensus, direct primaries and indirect primaries in different states, depending on what the party considers suitable.
“We have had situations where all aspirants agreed on a single candidate through consensus. No other party in Nigeria has managed that without ending up in court. Even our presidential primaries were conducted using direct primaries,” he said.
Responding to concerns about defections to the APC, Yilwatda said the movement of politicians from other parties is part of political competition.
“It is fair because many of those parties are already dying. Their members want to survive politically, and they see the APC as the most organised platform. Just like in a market, people choose what works best,” he said.
He added that members of parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party have joined the APC.
Nentawe Yilwatda said the APC has 31 governors and a majority in the National Assembly, which he attributed to voter support.
On funding, he said the party is sustained by dues paid by members.
“APC belongs to its members. That is why we do not have a Board of Trustees. Our members fund the party through dues and other legitimate contributions, and that gives them true ownership,” he said. He said the party remains committed to internal democracy and transparency
