By|| Goodluck E. Adubazi || Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sounded the alarm over what it describes as a coordinated effort to coerce civil servants in several states into registering for the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s ongoing e-registration exercise.
In a statement released, the opposition party alleged that public servants are coming under pressure, allegedly linked to the APC’s national leadership, to enlist as members of the ruling party as a condition for job security, career advancement, or continued access to their livelihoods.
The ADC condemned the alleged practice, describing it as “economic coercion” and “forced membership,” and warned that compelling civil servants to join a political party violates their constitutional right to freedom of association.
According to the party, the reports—described as consistent and widespread—point to an attempt to undermine democratic norms by stripping public servants of their right to political choice. The ADC stressed that freedom of thought, conscience, and association are guaranteed under the Constitution and cannot be overridden by any government or ruling party.
“What is being branded as e-registration is beginning to look like state-sponsored conscription,” the party said, arguing that a political party with genuine public support would not need to rely on intimidation or the “weaponization of the payroll” to boost its membership.
The ADC also warned that the alleged coercion poses a serious threat to the neutrality and professionalism of the civil service, which it said is constitutionally expected to remain merit-based and loyal to the state, not to any political organization.
Turning civil servants into partisan actors, the party argued, would erode institutional integrity and weaken public trust in governance.
Dismissing the credibility of any membership data gathered through intimidation, the ADC cautioned that inflated digital registers do not equate to genuine political support. “Databases do not vote; citizens do,” the party noted, adding that coerced numbers cannot mask public dissatisfaction driven by economic hardship, insecurity, and declining hope.
The party called on relevant authorities, including the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), labour unions, civil society groups, and the international community, to closely monitor the situation, warning that the alleged actions amount to an abuse of power and potential violations of data privacy and human rights.
