Baring any other development, the All Progressive Congress Party membership registration and revalidation have been scheduled to commence from January 25th, 2021. The exercise, last updated in 2014 will allow old and new members to register and update their membership in the party. Youths from ages 18 and above are expected to cash in on this golden opportunity to have a voice in the party affairs.
But knowing the importance, there is suspicion that some powerful elements within the party are scheming to hijack the process to have only loyal members access the registration. These powerful elements have in the past used the process to manipulate the voting outcomes to their own advantage. Now that the stage is set for another exercise, it is suspected that they are not likely to cede control of the vital structure. But the new kids in the block are determined to wrestle the old guard without blinking an eye.
The new kids are worried that their abstinence from the process was the direct cause of the rise of godfatherism which they are determined to void. But the fear is that in the absence of money to throw around, they have to do more than ordinary planning. In Lagos for example, a former governor who, in 2018, on the eve of the primary found his name not to have been on the register! “You can imagine if they could manipulate the register to exclude a former governor who had to be forcibly registered because of his weight; what about the minions”, questioned a public affairs analyst in the know of the proceedings.
Nevertheless, the belief is that the process is still fraught with sharp practices leaving the door open to only those who know how to play the “ball”. Nigerians who are of age are however enjoined to make good use of the exercise to avoid being disenfranchised on election day. The process of 2023 starts from today.
