By Paul Joseph
Concerns are growing among citizens in Nigeria after some individuals claimed their names appeared in the membership register of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) without their knowledge or consent.
The issue reportedly surfaced from January during the party’s ongoing internal membership registration and update exercise.
Several Nigerians said they were surprised to discover they had been listed as members of the APC despite never participating in any registration process.
Some of the affected individuals have taken to social media platforms and public gatherings to voice their concerns, raising questions about how their personal information may have been obtained.
In interviews and online discussions, a number of citizens expressed fears that personal data may have been used without authorization.
The situation has sparked speculation among some commentators about a possible link to records held by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the government agency responsible for managing the country’s national identity database.
However, as of the time of this report, no publicly verified evidence has confirmed that the national identity database was used in the APC registration process.
Responding to the concerns, a spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress stated that the party’s membership registration exercises are designed to be voluntary and are typically coordinated by ward-level officials across the country.
The party has advised individuals who notice irregularities to report them through appropriate party channels for investigation.
Officials of the National Identity Management Commission have also maintained that the National Identity Number (NIN) database is governed by strict privacy regulations and cannot legally be shared with political parties or other unauthorized organizations.
Civil society advocates say the controversy underscores broader concerns about data protection and the handling of citizens’ personal information in Nigeria.
Some groups are calling for an independent review to reassure the public that sensitive national data systems are not being misused.
Digital rights organizations have also encouraged Nigerians who suspect their personal data may have been used without consent to file formal complaints with relevant regulatory authorities.
Political analysts note that disagreements and disputes over party membership lists are not unusual during large-scale registration exercises, particularly as political activities intensify ahead of election cycles.
For now, both the All Progressives Congress and the National Identity Management Commission insist that there is no official collaboration between the two institutions regarding political party registration, while citizens and advocacy groups continue to call for transparency and verification.
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