ADC Alleges Coercion of Civil Servants into APC E-Registration

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised concerns over what it described as widespread and coordinated attempts to compel Nigerian civil servants to register for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) through its ongoing e-registration exercise.

The party made the allegation in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

According to the ADC, it has received reports from various parts of the country alleging that public servants are being pressured to register for the APC as a condition for job security, career advancement or continued access to their livelihoods.

The party described the alleged development as unacceptable in a democratic society, warning that forcing citizens to belong to a political party amounts to a gross violation of fundamental human rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It stressed that freedom of thought, conscience and association are inalienable rights that cannot be granted or withdrawn by any government or ruling party.

The ADC further argued that what the APC refers to as “e-registration” is increasingly taking the form of economic coercion and forced political membership.

“A political party that genuinely enjoys popular support does not need to conscript citizens through fear, intimidation or the weaponisation of the payroll,” the statement said, describing the alleged practice as “state-sponsored conscription” rather than genuine party growth.

The party warned that such actions pose a serious threat to the neutrality and professionalism of the Nigerian civil service, which it said is constitutionally expected to remain non-partisan, merit-based and loyal to the state rather than any political party.

According to the ADC, turning civil servants into partisan tools undermines institutional credibility and erodes public trust in governance.

The party also dismissed claims that an expanding digital membership register reflects genuine political support, insisting that databases built through coercion do not translate into electoral victory.

“Databases do not vote; citizens do,” the statement said, adding that inflated figures achieved through intimidation may serve propaganda purposes but cannot mask what it described as growing public discontent driven by economic hardship, insecurity and declining confidence in governance.

The ADC called on relevant authorities, including the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), labour unions, civil society organisations and the international community, to closely monitor the situation, warning that it could amount to an abuse of power and possible violations of data privacy and human rights.