The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State has commenced electronic membership registration.

This is part of strategies aimed at strengthening internal party democracy and organisation.

The distribution of registration materials to agents commenced at the party secretariat in Ota-Ona area of Ikorodu on Monday.

The registration will be conducted in all the 30 wards of the council.

The items distributed to agents include iPads, printer and paper reams.

At the occasion, Olasunkanmi Tijani, APC Ikorodu Divisional Chairman, urged members to show commitment and participate in the exercise.

According to him, Ikorodu LGA has set the pace by giving the highest votes to APC during the legislative, Governorship and presidential elections at the last general election in 2023 in Lagos state.

“The programme has been gazetted to be done from the wards and whatever you do from the wards is good to go.

“After the ward, we are going down to the zones, the moment you get to the zones, it is as if you are going to register nearly everybody in an area.

“The strategy is, moving from wards to zones, and from zones to streets, you will be surprised that we may even get more than what we thought,” he said.

In his remarks, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, former Deputy Gov. of Lagos state, said the gadgets have been certified, adding that the only challenge is the network.

Ogunleye emphasised the need to encourage new members to join the party, adding that the platform responds to growing interest from Nigerians eager to identify with the APC’s programmes and reforms.

“The registration items have been tested and confirmed, the only challenge is probably when there is no network.

“With the stipulated 25 days earmarked for the registration, I am sure of having more than the last votes as everyone is interested in joining APC,” he said.

Similarly, Olorunfunni Bashorun, former Secretary to the Lagos state Government, said the programme would increase the number of members as well as improve the dividend of democracy.

Ezekiel Folorunsho, one of the agents, expressed gratitude to the leadership of the party for the commencement of the exercise after undergoing several training sessions and advised colleagues to take proper care of the gadgets for optimal results.

Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kogi, Muhammed Gambo said the party will reclaim its rightful place in the state and Nigeria in 2027.

Gambo spoke on Monday after meetings of the State Working Committee and State Executive Committee at the PDP Secretariat in Lokoja.

He said the party was determined to restore Kogi’s lost glory, citing achievements such as housing estates, road construction and functional hospitals.

Gambo said resolutions included tackling insecurity, participating in forthcoming local government elections, and setting up reconciliation and unity committees.

The PDP urged governments to intensify protection of lives and property, particularly in Kogi West, while acknowledging current efforts by the state government.

 “A secured state is key to progress. We will present ideas to ensure citizens live, work and travel safely,” Gambo said.

He added, “We are ready to collaborate with the government to fight insecurity and strengthen public safety across the state.”

Gambo said the party was ready for the local government polls but criticised the timetable issued by the electoral commission.

“We urge KOSIEC to extend the timetable for candidate submissions. The abrupt closure of forms is unacceptable and appears exclusionary,” he said.

He added that reconciliation and unity committees would address grievances and encourage the return of members who had left the party.

 “To those undecided or gone, come back home. Don’t abandon the PDP you helped build. Return and participate in decision-making,” Gambo said.

He said the party’s focus was development, not vendettas, adding that a rally was planned to welcome returning members and attract new supporters.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the meeting was attended by PDP chairmen and stakeholders from the state’s 21 local government areas.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

A fresh political confrontation has erupted between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, over the lingering power tussle in Rivers State.

Wike, speaking during a “thank-you” visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, warned Basiru to steer clear of the state’s politics, describing Rivers as a “no-go area” for political interference.

The former Rivers governor cautioned that past attempts by outsiders to meddle in the state’s affairs had ended badly, adding that he would not be blamed if Basiru’s “hands got burnt.”

The warning followed comments by the APC Vice Chairman (South-South), Victor Giadom, who had earlier referred to Governor Siminalayi Fubara as “the so-called governor” and claimed that Fubara could not secure a second term without Wike’s backing. Basiru subsequently criticised Giadom’s remarks, describing them as unfortunate and stressing that the office of governor deserved respect regardless of political disagreements.

Reacting to Basiru’s intervention, Wike accused some political actors of taking Rivers State’s support for President Bola Tinubu for granted and alluded to alleged interests in the state’s resources. He urged Basiru to focus on his home state and stop making what he termed unnecessary comments about Rivers politics.

Basiru, however, fired back in a statement he personally signed, telling Wike to resign his ministerial position if he wished to fully engage in Rivers State politics. He dismissed Wike’s comments as veiled threats and insisted that he could not be intimidated.

The APC scribe maintained that Wike, not being a member of the ruling party, lacked the authority to interfere in its internal affairs. He stressed that as national secretary, his responsibilities covered the entire country and were not limited to Osun State, his state of origin.

Basiru also rejected allegations that he had any interest in Rivers State funds, describing them as baseless and inconsistent with his record of public service. He said his political history and past role in confronting military rule showed he could not be bullied by anyone, regardless of status.

The exchange underscores deepening tensions surrounding Rivers State politics and highlights the fragile relationships between key political actors amid the ongoing rift between Wike and Governor Fubara.