By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Chairman of the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Benjamin Omale, has called on party members to actively participate in the ongoing E-Registration exercise, saying it will strengthen their political influence and secure opportunities for the party in upcoming elections.

Omale spoke while flagging off the APC membership E-Registration in his home local government, Ohimini.

According to the Chairman, the exercise is far more than a routine administrative activity. “This E-Registration is the foundation upon which members’ political strength, electoral victory, and internal democracy will be built,” he said.

“Any stakeholder who ignores this exercise is knowingly or unknowingly weakening the party they claim to serve, both at the state and federal levels,” he cautioned.

Emphasizing the strategic importance of data in modern politics, Omale noted, “In today’s political environment, data is power. A party that does not know its members cannot protect them, mobilize them, or defend their votes.

“E-registration gives us a verified, credible, digital membership register that will determine who votes in party primaries, who qualifies for appointments, and who the party stands with during elections. Let me be very clear: if your name is not in the APC E-registration database, you are politically invisible,” he said.

The Chairman stressed that the exercise would decide not only who participates in choosing APC candidates but also who would represent the party at every level and benefit from its governance. “No stakeholder, no leader, no politician, no matter how powerful, can stand outside this process. This is not about technology; it is about control of the party’s future,” Omale said.

“Whoever controls the membership controls the party. And that control must belong to the APC faithful, not political opportunists, not outsiders, and not infiltrators. This is why His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Benue State, has given this exercise his full support. He understands that a strong APC must be built on a strong, credible, and verifiable membership structure,” he noted.

Omale called on all party leaders to take ownership of the registration process. “Every Ward Chairman, every Local Government Chairman, every Party Leader, every elected and appointed official must mobilize their people, register them, supervise them, and defend the process,” he said.

Highlighting the long-term impact of the exercise, the APC chairman said, “This is a moment to prove who is truly APC and who is just wearing the APC name. Let history record that when the future of APC in Benue was at stake, its leaders stood up, mobilized their people, and secured the party. Together, we will build a party that cannot be rigged out, cannot be infiltrated, and cannot be defeated.”

Omale also linked the exercise to broader political ambitions, stressing that massive participation would pave the way for the reelection of Governor Hyacinth Alia and President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

He issued a clarion call to duty, loyalty, and commitment saying, “The future of the APC in Benue State depends on us. This is our opportunity to strengthen our party, protect our members, and secure our shared political destiny.”