Gov Aiyedatiwa flags off APC e-registration, calls for massive member mobilisation

By Precious Oluwole

Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, on Monday formally flagged off the All Progressives Congress (APC) electronic membership registration exercise, stressing that the process was critical to the growth, credibility and future planning of the ruling party.

The governor spoke during the flag-off of the APC e-registration training held at the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) Hall, Akure.

Aiyedatiwa stated that it was important for party members to fully appreciate the challenges and significance of the registration drive.

He said the e-registration initiative aligned with the long-standing vision of President Bola Tinubu, even before he became President, adding that what the President had always envisioned was now being implemented.

According to the governor, the exercise was not only important to the APC but also to the President, who is the leader of the party.

“This is to tell you how important this exercise is. It is very, very important for our party, not just our party, but the leader of our party, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa urged party members to demonstrate commitment by taking the registration exercise seriously, stressing that mobilisation should be based on influence and encouragement rather than coercion.

“We are not going to force them. It is not by coercion. It is by influence and encouragement,” he said, adding that only registered members could legitimately lay claim to APC membership.

He explained that the exercise would also bring equalisation, as all members would be registered within the same framework and timeframe, noting that he was personally taking the lead.

Emphasising the need for diligence, the governor urged trainees to pay attention to details during the training, describing the exercise as technology-driven.

“It is technology day. And technology is what is being used to drive every process, businesses, the knowledge economy we talk about today that rules the world,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa added that information, education, skills and ICT now drove modern economies and should also be used to manage party affairs effectively.

He highlighted the importance of building a credible database, noting that data would help the party to know its members, plan effectively and strengthen internal processes.

Drawing an analogy with football supporters, the governor said party loyalty, like club loyalty, was built on belief rather than force, adding that APC remained a winning party.

“We are winning. There is no other party,” he said.

He further noted that the Ondo State House of Assembly had become a one-party legislature, describing it as the first time in the state’s history that there were no opposition members in the Assembly.

“So the state assembly now is of one party. First time in the history of the state. No PDP member anymore. All of them are APC,” he said.

The governor pointed out that the registration exercise had a defined timeframe, explaining that it would close on January 31, giving party officials about 33 or 34 days to register as many members as possible.

“The work is in your hands. You have a lot to do. And you must take this work seriously,” he told the trainees.

He said those selected for the training were chosen from various wards, local governments and districts, and were expected to train others, stressing that their selection showed the party’s confidence in their capacity.

“Don’t disappoint us,” Aiyedatiwa warned.

He urged party officials to ensure that all interested members, including new members and those previously registered manually, were captured before the deadline.

The governor also encouraged participants to report any challenges to party leaders, council chairmen or councillors, assuring them of support to ensure the success of the exercise.

According to him, a functional database was essential for planning, membership verification and eligibility to vote or be voted for within the party.

“That is where you can actually vote and be voted for. Very important,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa said his presence at the event was to personally emphasise the importance of the exercise, urging the trainees not to disappoint party leaders.

He thanked the resource persons for their contributions and formally flagged off the APC e-registration membership training.

Addressing the participants, the Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, South-West, Dr Isaac Kekemeke (SAN), said the ongoing electronic registration of party members was critical to strengthening the APC’s structure, internal democracy and credibility ahead of future congresses and primary elections.

Kekemeke stated this while addressing party leaders and officials during the APC e-registration exercise in Ondo State, where he commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for organising the programme despite the tight schedules of political leaders.

He said the timing of the exercise highlighted the importance the APC attached to party affairs, noting that the registration was designed to achieve multiple objectives.

According to him, the first objective was to ensure that the party had verifiable and credible data of its membership nationwide.

The second, he said, was to allow new members across the country to become equal members of the party. The third objective, he explained, was to build a reliable database that would be used for congresses and primary elections, while the fourth was to enable members to become regular and financial members of the party.

Kekemeke disclosed that the exercise was being personally driven by President Bola Tinubu, with the full support of governors as heads of the sub-national governments, stressing that the party was relying on governors to ensure the success of the registration process in their respective states.

He clarified that within party structures, President Tinubu was regarded not only as President but also as the leader of the party, noting that this was the consistent practice at caucus meetings, National Executive Committee meetings and other official party programmes.

The APC vice chairman said the National Working Committee had resolved that party membership registration would close by the end of January, stressing that anyone who failed to register by then would no longer be recognised as a member of the party.

He added that the completion of the registration exercise would pave the way for the conduct of congresses, thanking Governor Aiyedatiwa for taking the initiative to support and drive the process at the state level.

In his welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Legislative Matters and Party Affairs, Babatunde Kolawole, said the APC had embarked on the electronic registration exercise to build a credible, technology-driven database of party members nationwide.

Kolawole explained that the database would eliminate phantom entries, ensure accurate membership records and enhance transparency and accountability within the party.

He said the exercise would improve party management by strengthening internal democracy and adherence to the rule of law, while also enhancing communication and coordination between the national secretariat and state chapters of the party through effective mobilisation of members.

Kolawole noted that all members successfully registered during the exercise would have access to reliable technological platforms for party activities.

 

He commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for taking the lead in ensuring the success of the programme, noting that despite the short notice, the governor was able to mobilise the necessary resources and approvals to make the training possible.

According to him, officials present at the event, including local government supervisors, pre-zonal administrative officers and party agents, would be trained on the electronic registration process to enable them to effectively register members across the state.

 

Kolawole thanked party functionaries and participants for their commitment and prayed for a successful exercise and safe return for all attendees.

 

In attendance were Deputy Governor Dr Olayide Adelami; Secretary to the State Government Dr Taiwo Fasoranti; Chief of Staff Prince Segun Omojuwa; members of the State Executive Council; local government chairmen; Director-General, OSRC Media Group, Mr Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson; political appointees; top government functionaries; and others.