THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised alarm over what it describes as widespread and disturbing reports that civil servants and government workers across several states are being coerced into registering for the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s ongoing nationwide e-registration exercise.
In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria over the weekend, the opposition party accused the ruling APC of attempting to force public servants to trade their constitutional rights for job security, career progression, and continued access to livelihoods, a move the ADC warned poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
The statement, signed by the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, claimed that the reports of coercion were “consistent and widespread,” suggesting what the party described as a coordinated effort driven by the APC’s national leadership.
“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) expresses deep concern over disturbing reports emerging from several states across the country indicating that civil servants and government workers are being coerced, under pressure from the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to register for the ruling party’s ongoing e-registration exercise,” the party said.
The ADC described the alleged practice as unacceptable in a democratic society, stressing that compelling Nigerians to join a political party amounts to a gross violation of fundamental human rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
“These reports suggest a coordinated attempt to compel public servants to surrender their freedom of association as a condition for job security, career progression, or continued access to livelihood. This is unacceptable in a democratic society,” the statement added.
The party further argued that freedom of thought, conscience, and association are inalienable rights, not privileges to be granted or withdrawn by those in power.
“Compelling any Nigerian to join a political party is a gross violation of their fundamental human rights. These freedoms are not privileges to be granted by the ruling party; they are rights that no government has the authority to abridge,” the ADC said.
The ADC criticised the APC’s e-registration exercise, warning that it was increasingly beginning to resemble what it termed “economic coercion” and “forced membership.”
According to the party, any political organisation with genuine grassroots support would not need to resort to intimidation or the weaponisation of the payroll to grow its membership.
“What the APC describes as e-registration is beginning to resemble economic coercion and forced membership. A party that truly enjoys popular support does not need to conscript its citizens through fear, intimidation, or the weaponisation of the payroll,” the statement said.
The party warned that pressuring civil servants to register for a political party they do not believe in undermines the neutrality, professionalism, and integrity of the civil service.
“The civil service is meant to be neutral, merit-based, and loyal to the state, not to any political party. Turning civil servants into partisan hostages erodes public trust in governance and undermines institutional integrity,” the ADC added.
The opposition coalition also dismissed any perceived numerical gains from the exercise, arguing that inflated membership figures achieved through intimidation would not translate into genuine political support.
“A database filled through coercion is essentially useless. Digital registers do not vote; citizens do. Inflated figures cannot disguise Nigerians’ growing discontent with the government’s failure to deliver economic relief, security, or hope,” the party stated.
The ADC called on the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, labour unions, civil society organisations, and the international community to take note of what it described as a dangerous abuse of power and potential violations of human rights and data privacy.
The APC, however, strongly rejected the allegations, describing them as unfounded, illogical, and impossible to sustain.
Speaking in an interview on Arise Television, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Barrister Felix Morka, dismissed claims that civil servants were being forced to register for the party.
Morka said no civil servant was being compelled or pressured to participate in the exercise, stressing that party membership is voluntary and not a civic obligation.
“Nobody is being coerced or forced. No civil servant is asked to register. Registration in a political party is not compulsory, and there are people whose schedules do not even permit them to belong to any political party. So how can you force them?” he asked.
He further argued that civil servants, by the nature of their roles, derive no special advantage from being card-carrying members of a political party.
“You cannot be a civil servant and be a card-carrying member of any political party in terms of contesting elections. You cannot benefit in any special way. So why would anyone force them to belong to something that gives them no advantage?” Morka said.
The APC spokesman described the allegations as “almost unimaginable,” noting that the party was already grappling with registering existing members and willing new entrants due to high enthusiasm.
“Those who have a reason and interest to register are right now struggling to register because of congestion on the networks. Who has the time or incentive to go compelling people who are not interested? To me, it is ridiculous to suggest,” he added.
Morka acknowledged technical challenges with network connectivity in some parts of the country but said alternative device-based registration systems were being deployed to address the gaps.
The controversy comes amid the APC’s nationwide membership registration and revalidation exercise, which has attracted significant political attention.
The debate has also been fueled by recent high-profile defections and political realignments, including reports that Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah defected to the APC last year after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a follow-up statement, the ADC said it had received information alleging that some public sector workers in Enugu State were being asked to provide personal details in connection with political activities, a claim the APC has yet to specifically address.