African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused All Progressives Congress (APC) of coercing civil servants in several states to take part in its ongoing electronic membership registration, claiming the practice undermines constitutional rights.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to a statement on Sunday by Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC spokesperson, there are credible reports that public servants are being pressured into joining the ruling party as a condition for job security and career progression.
The ADC called what it described as a push by the APC national leadership economic coercion and forced membership, saying it violated the freedom of association guaranteed in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“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 party said in its statement.
Abdullahi warned that forcing civil servants to register for a political party they do not support is not party growth; it is state-sponsored conscription. ADC argued that a party with genuine popular support would not need to rely on fear, intimidation, or “the weaponisation of the payroll” to increase its numbers.
The opposition group also expressed concern that this alleged influence on public servants poses a grave threat to the integrity and professionalism of the Nigerian and state civil services, noting that the civil service should be neutral, merit-based, and loyal to the nation rather than any political party.
ADC said that inflated membership figures achieved through intimidation cannot hide what it sees as growing public alienation from a government struggling to deliver economic relief, security, and hope to Nigerians.
It called on organisations such as the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, civil society groups, labour unions, and the international community to pay attention to what it termed “a state-enabled abuse of power.”
In related developments, the APC recently extended its digital registration deadline from January 31 to February 8, saying the move was in response to requests from party stakeholders to allow more people to register and validate their membership.
