The Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, has dismissed allegations by the Labour Party (LP) that the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s ongoing digital membership registration is fraudulent, describing the claims as “baseless, uninformed and politically motivated.”
Salisu said the allegations could only come from “those who are neither participants nor observers of the process,” insisting that the Labour Party has no locus to question an internal APC exercise.
The senator spoke with journalists, after kick-starting the APC e-registration exercise at his Opeji Ward in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Recall that the Ogun State chapter of the Labour Party on Wednesday said the APC's ongoing e-membership registration was to allegedly manipulate figures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In the statement credited to the State LP Chairman, Chief Oluwabukola Soyoye, she claimed that the APC’s e-registration exercise was designed to digitally inflate its membership strength and project a false image of popularity in the state.
Salisu said, “Only those involved in the registration can genuinely speak about it. The Labour Party is not part of this exercise, so how can it credibly allege fraud?” Salisu asked.
He urged the Labour Party to focus on fixing its internal crises rather than making what he described as “reckless public statements.”
“The real issue the Labour Party should be addressing is whether it still operates as a cohesive political organisation. From leadership tussles to factional disputes, the party is yet to clearly define who is in charge,” he said.
Salisu maintained that the APC, as the ruling party, has a duty to continually earn the trust of Nigerians, noting that the digital registration exercise is part of deliberate reforms to deepen internal democracy, transparency and accountability.
“As a governing party, we must constantly improve our systems. This e-registration is about strengthening our structures and preparing responsibly for future elections,” he said.
Drawing an analogy, the senator said it was inappropriate for an external party to label the APC’s internal process as fraudulent.
“You wouldn’t expect citizens of another country to question the credibility of Nigeria’s population census. In the same way, no external political party should sit outside and brand an internal APC process as fraudulent,” he said.
He challenged the Labour Party to conduct its own credible registration exercise if it believed such processes were flawed.
“But first, they need to settle which faction will supervise it,” Salisu added.
According to him, the APC remains focused on governance and institutional strengthening, “not on distractions.”
Speaking on the objectives of the ongoing e-registration, Salisu said the exercise is designed to give the party accurate and verifiable data on its true membership strength nationwide.
“In the past, we relied on manual registers where people simply wrote their names. That system encouraged unhealthy competition and, in many cases, inflation of figures,” he explained.
“Technology removes that weakness. This digital process gives us credible, verifiable data and ends the culture of guesswork,” he added.
Salisu described the exercise as a major reform with implications beyond party politics, noting that it aligns with his advocacy for digitisation as Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity and sponsor of the National Digital Economy and E-Government Bill.
“This is not just about the APC. It reflects the broader reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which extends to political processes, not just the economy or infrastructure,” he said.
He expressed confidence that APC’s adoption of technology would push other parties to embrace similar reforms.
According to him, the use of technology enhances efficiency, transparency and accountability, which are critical to building public confidence in political institutions.
The senator also highlighted the role of digital identity, particularly the National Identification Number (NIN), in the exercise.
“My registration took just a few minutes. With my NIN and voter registration details, my information was automatically retrieved and uploaded,” he said.
He noted that the integration of data across APC, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has broader national security benefits by improving identity verification.
On APC’s electoral outlook, Salisu said the party has remained strategic since winning the 2023 general elections.
“We are not relying on incumbency. We are deliberately improving our systems to deliver better outcomes in 2027 and beyond,” he said.
He urged APC members to actively participate in the exercise and welcome new entrants into the party.
“The APC remains committed to earning the mandate of Nigerians again and again, under the national leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun,” Salisu said.
After the registration, Senator Salisu took time to inspect a-7km Akomoje-Mawuko-Opeji road construction, he facilitated as part of his Constituency project.
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