All Progressives Congress (APC)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reported a marked rise in youth participation, signalling a strategic shift in the party’s demographic profile ahead of the 2027 general elections.
National Chairman of the party, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, where he underscored what he described as a quiet but significant realignment within the ruling party.
According to Yilwatda, recent internal assessments indicate that young Nigerians are joining the APC in greater numbers than older citizens, a development he said contrasts sharply with the party’s historical membership structure.
He explained that the party’s ongoing electronic registration exercise, supported by sampling and opinion polling, revealed that nearly half of those expressing interest in the APC platform fall within the 18 to 35 age bracket. By the party’s estimation, this cohort accounts for about 49 per cent of its active and prospective membership.
Yilwatda was quick to downplay elite defections as the main driver of the trend, insisting that the APC’s growth narrative is rooted more in grassroots movement than high-profile political migrations.
“When discussions arise about people returning to the APC, the focus should not be on governors or political heavyweights,” he said. “What is more instructive is the steady movement of ordinary Nigerians into the party on a daily basis.”
He noted that the development marks a significant departure from previous data, which showed youth representation hovering between 21 and 23 per cent. The current figures, he argued, effectively position the APC as a more youth-oriented political platform than it has ever been.
The party chairman acknowledged that the emerging statistics raise deeper questions about political engagement and appeal, particularly what factors are drawing younger Nigerians to the ruling party at a time of heightened economic and social expectations.
