The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has said the party belongs to its members which explains why there is no Board of Trustees (BoT).
He also attributed the party’s expanding membership and electoral competitiveness to its robust internal structures, technology-driven membership system, and transparent approach to party administration.
A statement released by his media adviser, Abimbola Tooki, Monday in Abuja, said the chairman was speaking during a public presentation.
Yilwatda said the APC’s adoption of electronic registration has fundamentally strengthened party organisation and mobilisation.
“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 stated.
He said the digital register gives the party accurate and verifiable data on its members, including their locations and contact details, enabling effective communication, mobilisation, and planning during elections. He noted that the system also enhances the credibility of party primaries by ensuring that only duly registered members participate.
“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.
Yilwatda added that the APC has linked its membership register to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), a move he said has helped to clean and validate the party’s database, eliminate duplication, and improve internal accountability.
On the debate around direct and indirect primaries, the APC chairman clarified that while direct primaries give party members a strong sense of belonging and participation, they are not without challenges. (blueprint)
