The All Progressives Congress (APC) says its extensive membership base, control of 31 states and strong representation in the National Assembly give it a significant organisational advantage ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party’s National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, disclosed this on Saturday during a meeting with an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) pre-election fact-finding mission at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.
The delegation was led by former Sierra Leone Vice-President Victor Bockarie Foh.
According to a statement released on Sunday, November 1, by Yilwatda’s media aide, Abimbola Tooki, the APC chairman described the ruling party as the largest political organisation in Nigeria, claiming its size was approximately three times that of its closest rival.
“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,” he said.
Yilwatda put the party’s membership at about 13 million, saying its presence cuts across local government areas nationwide.
He added that the APC maintains a central membership database containing members’ personal information and identity cards, which can be verified using their National Identification Numbers and voter identification details.
Also, he said the system provides the party with a framework for identifying supporters, coordinating activities and strengthening its mobilisation efforts at the grassroots.
The chairman also highlighted the APC’s administrative network, which comprises executives at ward, local government, state and national levels. He put the total number of party executives across these structures at more than 261,000.
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On its political representation, Yilwatda said the APC controls 31 of the country’s 36 states, alongside 88 seats in the Senate and 208 in the House of Representatives.
He also cited the party’s presence in state Houses of Assembly as evidence of its reach across the federation.
He argued that the combination of elected officials and party structures provides the APC with an extensive network for engaging citizens and mobilising support.
The chairman further identified women, youth and persons with disabilities as important groups within the party’s support base.
Yilwatda said the APC had also commenced preparations for the next election cycle, including inaugurating its campaign council, beginning campaign activities and uploading its candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s portal.
He called on INEC to conduct the elections in accordance with its announced timetable, insisting that all political parties should operate under the same rules.
“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.
While presenting the party’s membership figures and political strength as evidence of its preparedness, Yilwatda said the APC was relying on its organisational capacity and candidate readiness rather than taking electoral victory for granted.
INEC has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections.