Our Reporter, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over what it described as disturbing reports of civil servants and government workers in several states allegedly being coerced to register for the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s ongoing electronic membership exercise.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the reports indicate that public servants are coming under pressure from national and state-level leaders of the ruling party to enlist in the APC as a condition for job security, career progression, or continued access to livelihoods.
The opposition party described the alleged practice as unacceptable in a democratic society, insisting that compelling Nigerians to join a political party amounts to a gross violation of fundamental human rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
“Freedom of thought, conscience, and association are not privileges to be granted by the ruling party; they are inalienable rights that no government has the authority to abridge,” the ADC said.
The party warned that what the APC refers to as an e-registration exercise is increasingly taking the character of economic coercion and forced membership, arguing that a political party with genuine popular support would not resort to fear, intimidation, or the “weaponisation of the payroll” to grow its ranks.
According to the ADC, pressuring civil servants to register for a party they do not believe in does not amount to organic party growth but rather “state-sponsored conscription.”
The ADC further expressed concern that the alleged actions pose a serious threat to the neutrality and professionalism of the Nigerian civil service, which it said is meant to be merit-based and loyal to the state, not to any political party.
“Turning civil servants into partisan hostages undermines institutional integrity and erodes public trust in governance,” the statement noted.
The party also dismissed the idea that a database built through coercion could translate into genuine political support, stressing that inflated membership figures achieved through intimidation may serve propaganda purposes but cannot substitute for real voter backing.
“Databases do not vote; citizens do,” the ADC said, adding that such tactics could further alienate Nigerians from a government it accused of failing to deliver economic relief, security, or hope.
The ADC called on relevant authorities, including the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), civil society organisations, labour unions, and the international community, to take note of what it described as a state-enabled abuse of power and a potential violation of data privacy and human rights.
