The Grassroots Mobilization Network (GMN), a support group of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has dismissed the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s claim of 12.9 million registered members as “a scam and outright fraud,” challenging the ruling party to publish its membership register for public verification.
The group alleged that the membership figure was fabricated to create a false impression of massive nationwide support for the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections and potentially provide cover for an alleged plan to manipulate the polls.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by GMN spokesperson, Comrade Peter Emeka.
Emeka said the APC’s claim was an attempt to deceive Nigerians and the international community about the party’s actual strength, arguing that genuine political popularity could not be manufactured through unverified figures.
“The APC’s so-called 12.9 million membership claim is nothing but fraud and a scam by a party that has lost the confidence of Nigerians,” the group said.
“You cannot manufacture members on paper when your government has failed to deliver food, security and jobs to the people.”
GMN further alleged that the figures could be deployed as part of preparations to manipulate the 2027 presidential election.
“The main aim of manufacturing these figures by the desperate APC is to use it to support their impending rigging plans,” Emeka alleged.
“But that plan will fail. Nigerians are ready to foil whatever illegal and dubious plans to frustrate or win the 2027 presidential election.”
The group also accused the APC of attempting to create a misleading picture of its grassroots support base before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), election observers and the wider international community.
“It’s simply a gimmick to hoodwink Nigerians and the world, but it’s a mockery of our democracy,” Emeka said.
GMN challenged the APC to substantiate its claim by making its membership database available for scrutiny.
“If APC truly has 12.9 million members, let them publish the register, state by state, ward by ward, for Nigerians to verify. The party has not done that because there is nothing to show,” the statement said.
The group argued that political parties should build their support through credible leadership, performance and public trust rather than what it described as propaganda and inflated statistics.
“If APC truly wants to grow its membership, it should first address hunger, insecurity and economic hardship.
“Nigerians will join a party that gives them hope, not one that gives them lies,” it added.
GMN warned that unverified membership figures could further damage public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system and deepen voter apathy.
“Nigerians are not children. We can see the empty rallies, the deserted party offices and the anger on the streets,” the group said.
“This fake membership claim will only deepen the disconnect between the government and Nigerians.”
The ADC support group accused the APC-led Federal Government of using propaganda to divert attention from what it described as worsening poverty, inflation, unemployment and insecurity.
“Governance is not a census of ghosts. Leadership must be accountable, measurable and people-centred,” GMN declared.
“The APC should stop chasing headlines and face the real problems confronting Nigerians.
GMN called on civil society organisations and the media to demand evidence from the APC and subject its claimed 12.9 million membership figure to independent scrutiny.
The group maintained that Nigerians deserve a credible and transparent electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections, rather than what it described as “manufactured statistics” designed to create a perception of electoral dominance.
