The All Progressives Congress has revised its 2026 activity schedule, extending the ongoing membership e-registration exercise until February 8, 2026, while excluding Rivers State, Osun State, Ekiti State and the Federal Capital Territory from its forthcoming party congresses.
The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, disclosed this to reporters in Abuja on Friday. He also explained that the National Convention, earlier scheduled for March 17, will now take place on March 27 and 28.
Last year, the party unveiled a detailed schedule for its 2025/2026 nationwide ward, local government, state and zonal congresses, culminating in the National Convention.
The schedule initially fixed the membership e-registration exercise for December 1, 2025, to January 30, 2026.
However, Morka said the 183rd National Working Committee extended the exercise to February 8 to allow more party members to register and to help the APC reach its 12 million membership target.
He further explained that Rivers State was excluded from the upcoming ward congresses because off-cycle congresses were held there last year, while Osun State, Ekiti State and the Federal Capital Territory were excluded due to upcoming governorship and council elections.
The APC Publicity Secretary, flanked by the National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, and other members of the National Working Committee, 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.”
Morka urged party members, particularly with regard to the e-registration exercise, to continue mobilising those yet to register and to take full advantage of the extension approved by the National Working Committee.
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.”
The National Secretary said the e-registration exercise had been highly successful, noting that the extension was not due to low participation but aimed at accommodating more party 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.”