The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised the alarm over reports that civil servants across several states are being coerced to register for the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) ongoing e-registration exercise.
The party, which described the practice as economic coercion and forced membership, added that the civil servants are allegedly under pressure from the party’s national leadership to embark on the e-registration exercise.
ADC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, warned that compelling public servants to join a political party violates their constitutional right to freedom of association and undermines the neutrality of the civil service.
“These reports, which are consistent and widespread, 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.
“It is important to reiterate that compelling any Nigerian to join a political party is a gross violation of their fundamental human rights, as guaranteed under 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.
“What the APC describes as ‘e-registration’ is increasingly beginning to resemble economic coercion and forced membership. A political party that truly enjoys popular support does not need to conscript its citizens through fear, intimidation, or the weaponization of the payroll. When civil servants are pressured to register for a party that they do not believe in, that is not party growth; it is state-sponsored conscription.”
ADC further said that “this development also poses a grave threat to the integrity and professionalism of the Nigerian and state civil services. The civil service is meant to be neutral, merit-based, and loyal to the state and the country, not to any political party. Turning civil servants into partisan hostages undermines institutional integrity and erodes public trust in governance.”
The party further warned that a database filled through coercion is a paper tiger, adding, “a digital register does not translate to genuine political support. Databases do not vote; citizens do. Inflated numbers achieved through intimidation may serve propaganda purposes, but they cannot disguise the growing alienation of Nigerians from a government that has failed to deliver economic relief, security, or hope.”
The ADC has therefore called on relevant authorities, including the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), civil society organizations, labour unions, and the international community, to take serious note of what increasingly appears to be a state-enabled abuse of power and a potential violation of data privacy and human rights.
