The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has emphasised the critical role of data and measurable outcomes in modern governance and party administration as he flagged off the All Progressives Congress (APC) E-Registration Hands-on Device/Application workshop themed “Train-The-Trainer” for the Southwest Zone.
The event, held at the State House, Marina, Lagos, on Tuesday, was attended by the APC National Secretary, Senator Basiru Ajibola, who led members of the party’s National Working Committee, as well as the Lagos APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, party secretaries from the six Southwest states, and other key officials.
The workshop, which will be replicated across the region, is designed to build capacity for the digitisation of the APC’s membership record, an effort aimed at recalibrating the registration process, promoting demographic diversity, and strengthening grassroots participation.
Represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the automation of the APC’s system was crucial to accurately measuring the party’s strength in any electoral process.
“This exercise is particularly important for us to know and identify true members of our party. It will allow the leadership to trace every member to their ward level,” the governor said. “It is not when elections are coming that people should suddenly declare membership. Digitising the party’s database will help us synchronise activities at the grassroots and measure the strength of the party across all levels.”
He noted that data-driven management was one of the governance legacies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his tenure as Lagos State governor, stressing that effective governance and strong political structures depend on measurable and verifiable data.
Sanwo-Olu urged those overseeing the exercise to ensure the process meets the expectations of the party’s leadership and strengthens internal cohesion. He reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment to transparency, effective data management, and people-centred governance.
The governor also commended President Tinubu for introducing difficult but necessary reforms in the petroleum and financial sectors, noting that their positive impacts were beginning to manifest. He called on APC members to continue supporting the federal government’s policies, assuring that the long-term benefits would uplift citizens.
In his remarks, APC National Secretary, Senator Basiru Ajibola, described the initiative as a landmark step toward institutionalising transparency and accountability in party operations.
“A political party is not a consortium but a membership-based organisation that must have an authentic and verifiable database,” Basiru said. “The E-Registration programme underscores our commitment to accuracy, innovation, and inclusiveness in political engagement.”
He added that the exercise marks the conclusion of the zonal training series, reaffirming the APC’s drive to strengthen its structures nationwide and set a benchmark for progressive governance.
Lagos APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, in his welcome address, said the initiative would deepen democracy through accurate record-keeping and data-driven party management.
“This programme shows that we are organised, capable, and committed to doing things right,” Ojelabi said. “Through this exercise, the APC continues to demonstrate leadership as a people-oriented political party.”
Ojelabi further urged political parties to embrace technology and modernise their systems to remain relevant in today’s democratic environment, noting that accurate data and digital tools are indispensable for effective political administration.
