By Jude Opara Abuja

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disclosed that all intended entrants and existing members must be physically present during the ongoing membership registration and revalidation because nobody would be registered in absentia.

This was disclosed in Abuja on Thursday by APC Director of Organisation, Prof.

The workshop is also supported by the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

“There is no room for membership registration and revalidation by proxy. That is why we have paid attention to cultural peculiarities and possible restrictions in some parts of the country by ensuring that the composition of the membership registration officials comprises all gender.

Medaner further told the participants that nationwide membership registration and register update of the Party is an important and most unique element of growing the party in preparation for all future elections.

“This is premised on the fact that the strength of the party is the bulk of its guaranteed support and membership base.

The APC in a bid to enlarge its support base and simultaneously create ownership mentality that will translate to improved members participation is embarking on the membership registration which includes the energising of the registered members to be paying annual dues as contained in the party rules book.”

Similarly, in respect of the registration procedure, a manual for the exercise added that, registration forms, duplicate membership card, party seal, due card, hard copy register, computer system with readymade registration template, stationeries, hand sanitisers, temperature checkers will be provided for officials undertaking the registration and revalidation exercise.

“At the registration centre, there will be Registration Officers (ROs) with respective assigned job functions including interface with intending members, biodata collection and entering data in the register.”

The workshop identified general issues that may arise in the membership registration/revalidation exercise and gave the following directives:

***An individual may insist on collecting registration form on behalf of another. This must be totally rejected and not allowed.

At the point of submission of each form, the passport photograph on the form must belong to the individual submitting it, otherwise the form is to be collected and set aside.

***In case an individual made a photocopy of the form from another and present the same for submission, the form must not only be rejected but must be collected and set aside while the individual is directed to follow the accepted pathway.

Such forms are invalid and must be destroyed and captured in the exercise report.

***Attempt by an individual to register more than once, when discovered, it should be stopped either at the registration point or at the point of final collation and documentation.

***To prevent multiple registrations, the use of ink on the thumb of each registered individuals and more efficiently, the design of the final documentation template identifies repeated data entry.

Conversely, the workshop also stressed the need for the strict adherence to the Covid-19 protocols at Registration Centres.

In his vote of thanks on behalf of the participants, Barr. Omasan Agbajoh, Secretary of the Kano State Registration Committee, said the APC will emerge from the membership registration with greater numerical membership strength and stronger political base that will put it in prime position to win the 2023 general elections.