APC Official Website Restored After Brief Defacement, Now Fully Operational

The official website of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), apc.com.ng, has been fully restored and is now displaying normal party content following a short-lived defacement incident last week.

As of March 16, 2026, visitors to the site encounter the standard homepage featuring party information, recent press releases, leadership details, membership links, and updates on ongoing activities.

The restoration appears to have occurred sometime between March 13 and March 15, 2026, based on archived web crawls and direct access checks. Prior to recovery, the site showed a “Hacker Terminal” interface under the signature “SHΔDØW CORE” with claims of system compromise, root-level access, data extraction, and references to “Alpha804” as the alleged perpetrator. That defaced version, including mock system logs and warnings, was visible as recently as March 13 but has since been completely removed.

The current homepage prominently includes sections on the party’s history (formed February 6, 2013), important links to the National Working Committee, elected members (including President Bola Tinubu), membership registration via registration.apc.com.ng, and live updates.

Recent posts visible on the site include:

• A message from President Tinubu on International Women’s Day (March 8, 2026), celebrating Nigerian women across various sectors.
• A similar statement from the First Lady.
• Congratulations to former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba on his 70th birthday (March 8, 2026).
• An address by the Attorney-General on the resolution of the OPL 245 dispute and its economic implications.

No mention of the hacking incident, restoration efforts, or enhanced security measures appears on the site itself. The APC has not issued a public statement through official channels acknowledging the breach or detailing the recovery timeline. Related membership portals and subpages seem unaffected throughout, continuing to support the party’s ongoing electronic registration drive.

The brief compromise occurred amid a busy period for the APC, including extensions to its nationwide e-registration exercise (resumed March 2 after earlier pauses), preparations for the national convention now scheduled for March 25 – 28, 2026, and responses to recent opposition defections to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The incident briefly disrupted access to the main public-facing platform during heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 elections.

Cybersecurity analysts suggest the defacement was likely opportunistic, exploiting common web vulnerabilities rather than a sophisticated attack, given the straightforward nature of the takeover and lack of reported data leaks or ransomware demands. The “Alpha804” tag has not been linked to any known hacking collective in public records.

The quick restoration – within days – indicates effective intervention by the party’s IT team or external support, involving cleanup and redeployment.

While the site is faring well technically with no lingering issues observed, the episode highlights ongoing digital risks for political organisations in Nigeria, where websites serve as key tools for communication, membership management, and public engagement.

No disruptions to the party’s operations or membership processes have been reported as a result. Supporters are advised to use verified channels, including the official X account, for the latest updates.