The All Progressives Congress has expressed confidence in its chances ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing its 13 million registered members, 31 state governors and extensive political structures across the country.
The party’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, disclosed this on Saturday when he received a pre-election fact-finding delegation of the Economic Community of West African States, led by former Sierra Leone Vice-President, Victor Bockarie Foh, at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.
Yilwatda, according to a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Abimbola Tooki, said the party’s membership strength and nationwide organisational network placed it ahead of other political parties.
He described the APC as the largest political party in Nigeria, claiming that 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.
The APC chairman explained that the party had about 13 million registered members across all local government areas, with a membership database and identification system designed to support verification through members’ National Identification Numbers and voter identification details.
He added that the party had more than 261,000 executive members operating across its ward, local government, state and national structures.
On its political representation, Yilwatda said the APC controlled 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states, with 88 senators in the 109-member Senate and 208 members in the 360-seat House of Representatives.
He noted that the party’s presence in state Houses of Assembly, alongside its support groups comprising women, youths and persons with disabilities, further strengthened its grassroots mobilisation capacity.
The national chairman also said the APC had inaugurated its campaign council, commenced campaign-related activities and uploaded its candidates’ details to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s portal ahead of other parties.
However, he urged INEC to maintain its published electoral timetable and ensure that all political parties were 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,” Yilwatda said.
He maintained that the party’s preparations were based on its organisational strength, nationwide structures and readiness of candidates, rather than an assumption that victory in the elections was guaranteed.
Earlier, Foh said the ECOWAS delegation was in Nigeria to assess the country’s political environment as part of efforts to promote credible, free and fair elections.
He explained that the mission would base its assessment on systematic observation, verified information and credible data rather than assumptions.
Foh added that the delegation was engaging relevant political stakeholders to obtain different perspectives on the country’s electoral preparations.
INEC has scheduled January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
