APC extends membership registration, shifts national convention date

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has revised its timetable for key party activities in 2026, extending its ongoing nationwide membership e-registration exercise and adjusting plans for upcoming congresses and its National Convention.

Under the new schedule, the membership e-registration exercise will now run until February 8, 2026, giving more party members and prospective entrants additional time to complete their registration.

The party also announced that Rivers State, Osun State, Ekiti State, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been excluded from the forthcoming congresses.

The changes were disclosed on Friday in Abuja by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, who said the adjustments are part of efforts to ensure a smooth and well-coordinated process.

Morka further revealed that the party’s National Convention has been rescheduled. Originally planned for March 17, the convention will now hold on March 27 and 28.

The ruling party had, last year, released a comprehensive schedule for its 2025/2026 ward, local government, state and zonal congresses, leading to the National Convention. Under the original plan, the membership e-registration exercise was to run from December 1, 2025, to January 30, 2026.

Morka, however, said the 183rd meeting of the National Working Committee approved an extension of the registration exercise to February 8 in order to accommodate more members and support the party’s goal of reaching 12 million registered members.

He further clarified that Rivers State was excluded from the forthcoming ward congresses because the party conducted off-cycle congresses in the state last year. Osun State, Ekiti State and the Federal Capital Territory, he said, were exempted due to impending governorship and council elections.

Addressing journalists alongside the National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, and other members of the National Working Committee, Morka said:
“At the meeting, the National Working Committee of our great party adopted the following resolutions and decisions. First, the Committee resolved to extend the ongoing membership e-registration exercise from January 31, 2026, to February 8, 2026.

“Second, the party will hold its congresses on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, with the National Convention scheduled to take place from March 27 to March 28, 2026.

“However, with respect to the congresses, there will be exceptions for the following states: Osun State, Ekiti State, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Rivers State. These states will be excluded from the upcoming congresses.”

He urged party members to intensify mobilisation efforts, especially for those yet to participate in the e-registration process, and to make full use of the extension approved by the committee.

Morka also disclosed that the National Working Committee had approved the membership of the Coordinating Committee for the National Convention, noting that details would be made public on Monday.

He added: “In addition, the National Working Committee approved the composition of the Coordinating Committee for the National Convention. We believe this will be published on Monday, when the full list of members and the chairmanship of that committee will be made available. All changes and adjustments made to the congress schedule will also be published and made available to you on Monday.

“With respect to the exceptions for Osun, Ekiti, the FCT, and Rivers State, there are two explanations. First, Osun State, Ekiti State and the FCT have upcoming elections. These states are exempted to allow those elections to take place. Congress in those states will be scheduled subsequently, after the elections.

“With respect to Rivers State, you will recall that the party conducted off-cycle congresses in Rivers State last year. The tenure of the executives elected at that congress is still subsisting. Therefore, we must wait for that tenure to expire before scheduling fresh congresses in Rivers State.

“On the extension of the e-registration exercise, there is a simple explanation. We want more members to register. We are responding to the clamour by enthusiastic members who are eager to register, and the extension is to give them more time.”

Speaking separately, the National Secretary described the e-registration exercise as successful, stressing that the extension was not prompted by poor turnout but by the need to include more members.

He said: “Yes, and we are already above that figure. We are doing very well. In line with our efforts to digitise everything about our party, applications for the upcoming congresses will also be available online. This is the first of its kind.

“We are innovating rapidly, and we believe this sets us apart. With regard to the e-registration exercise, there are two essential requirements: the registrant must provide a name and a Voter Identification Number (VIN).

“What APC is doing is ensuring that its members are financially inclusive, enabling them to own assets and benefit from various interventions by government and international organisations. How can one be a member of a political party without being a registered voter? The best way to show support for your party is the ability to vote. These two requirements are mandatory and are being complied with.

“When I was here about a week ago, I stated that we would cross the seven-million mark. We have crossed that mark, and by the grace of God, by the time registration closes on February 8, we expect to cross 12.5 million members.”