The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the exclusion of Rivers, Ekiti, Osun States, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from its upcoming round of State Congresses.
The decision was disclosed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Felix Morka, during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, following the 183rd meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
According to Morka, the congresses are scheduled to hold nationwide on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, leading up to the party’s National Convention slated for March 27th and 28th, 2026.
Reasons for Exclusions
The party provided distinct explanations for the exemptions:
Ekiti, Osun, and FCT: These areas were excluded due to upcoming elections. The APC stated that congresses in these jurisdictions will be scheduled after the elections to avoid interference.
Rivers State: The exemption was clarified as not being related to the current political tensions in the state. Instead, the party explained that Rivers State held “off-cycle congresses” last year, and the tenure of the executive committee elected then is still running. Fresh congresses will be held only after that tenure expires.
Extension of E-Registration
In a related development, the NWC also approved an extension of the ongoing membership e-registration exercise. The deadline has been moved from January 31, 2026, to February 8, 2026.
Responding to questions, the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, stated that the extension was a direct response to requests from stakeholders and state governors to accommodate more enthusiastic members.
“We are extending because there were requests… and because we also know that there are quite thousands [more] who want to register,” Basiru said.
Record Membership and Digital Drive
Senator Basiru used the occasion to tout the success of the registration exercise, revealing that the party has now surpassed seven million registered members. He projected that the number could reach 12.5 million by the new February 8 deadline, claiming the APC’s size is now “more than the population of as many as 100 countries in the world.”
He also announced a digital innovation, stating that applications for the upcoming congresses would be available online for the first time in the party’s history.
The National Secretary strongly defended the two mandatory requirements for registration: a verifiable name and a voter identification number (VIN).
He argued that this aligns with data protection laws, enables financial inclusion for members, and ensures that party members are legitimate, registered voters capable of supporting the APC at the polls.
Mr. Morka confirmed that the full composition of the National Convention Coordinating Committee and the detailed adjustments to the congress schedule will be published and made available to the public on Monday.
The briefing ended with a call to members to utilize the extension period to mobilize new registrants and solidify the party’s structure ahead of the congresses and convention.
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