APC Says It Has 13 Million Members and 31 Governors Ahead of 2027 Elections

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that its 13 million registered members, 31 governors, and over 261,000 executive members give it the upper hand against other political parties as the 2027 general elections approach.

The party's National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, made this statement on Saturday while welcoming a pre-election fact-finding mission from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The mission was led by former Sierra Leone Vice-President, Victor Bockarie Foh, at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.

In a statement released on Sunday by his media aide, Abimbola Tooki, Yilwatda claimed that the party's national structure and grassroots support make it about three times bigger than its closest competitor.

Yilwatda emphasized that the APC's strength goes beyond just winning elections. He pointed to the party's membership numbers, grassroots connections, elected officials, support groups, and well-established internal structures.

He said, "Our party is the largest political party in Nigeria. In terms of structure, organisation and membership, no other political party comes close to us. We are approximately three times larger than the next political party in the country."

Yilwatda revealed that the APC has around 13 million registered members spread across all local government areas in Nigeria. He mentioned that they have detailed records of members and membership identity cards designed for verification using their National Identification Numbers and voter identification details.

The national chairman explained that the party's membership database and identification system lay a strong foundation for effective grassroots engagement, mobilization, internal coordination, and electoral planning.

Professor Yilwatda also highlighted the extensive organisational network of the APC. He noted that the party has elected and appointed executives from the ward level to local governments, states, and all the way up to national level.

Yilwatda stated that the party's national structures enhance its grassroots engagement and campaign coordination. He added that its elected officials reflect the party's political reach across Nigeria.

The statement mentioned that the APC has over 261,000 executive members within its organisational hierarchy. Yilwatda described this network as a key source of its political strength and national presence.

He stated, "The party has 31 governors out of 36, 88 senators out of the 109-member Senate, and 208 members of the House of Representatives out of 360 seats. The party also maintains a strong presence in state Houses of Assembly across the country."

Yilwatda explained that this representation gives the APC a wide network of political leadership and elected officials who can connect government policies with the people and mobilize support at federal, state, and local levels.

He pointed out that the party's strength goes beyond its elected officials. The APC also has support from various organized groups, including youth, women, and persons with disabilities.

The chairman mentioned that the APC has already set up its campaign council, started activities, and uploaded its candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) portal ahead of other parties.

The statement added that Yilwatda expects INEC to stick to its published electoral timetable. He argued that it is crucial for the rules to be applied consistently to ensure fairness among political parties.

He said, "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."

Yilwatda reiterated that the APC's preparations for the 2027 elections rely on its organizational strength, candidate readiness, and national structures. He said they do not assume that winning is guaranteed.

Earlier, Victor Bockarie Foh, the head of the ECOWAS mission and former Sierra Leone Vice-President, stated that the mission was evaluating Nigeria's political environment to support free, fair, and transparent elections.

He noted that the mission's findings would come from systematic observation, verification, and credible data instead of assumptions.

Foh added that the team will rely on scientific observations and verified information collected through its application system to guide its recommendations.

He also mentioned that the mission is consulting relevant political stakeholders to gather insights for its assessment of Nigeria's electoral environment before the 2027 general elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has set January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections.