The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has voiced alarm over claims that civil servants and other government employees are facing coercion to register with the All Progressives Congress (APC) through its ongoing e-registration process.
In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC indicated that numerous reports from various states highlighted the pressure being exerted on workers to take part in the APC’s membership registration initiative.
"The ADC expresses serious concern regarding alarming reports coming out from several states across Nigeria, indicating that civil servants and government workers are being coerced, under pressure from the national leadership of the APC, to enroll for the ruling party’s current e-registration exercise," the statement read.
The party further noted that this occurrence appears to be a tactic to compel workers to sacrifice their freedom of association in exchange for job security, deeming it unacceptable as it infringes on essential human rights.
"These reports, which are widespread and consistent, imply a systematic effort to force public servants to forfeit their freedom of association as a condition for job security, career advancement, or continued employment. This is intolerable in a democratic framework," the ADC continued.
"It is crucial to emphasize that compelling any Nigerian to affiliate with a political party is a blatant infringement of their fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The rights to freedom of thought, conscience, and association are not privileges bestowed by the ruling party; they are inherent rights that no government should undermine," they added.
The ADC highlighted that any political party with robust backing does not need to engage in intimidation or weaponize payroll systems to thrive, arguing that forcing employees to join a party they do not support equates to state- sanctioned conscription.
"What the APC refers to as ‘e-registration’ increasingly resembles economic coercion and enforced membership. A political party that genuinely enjoys public support should not need to recruit its citizens through intimidation or the manipulation of payroll systems. When civil servants are compelled to join a party they do not believe in, this is not growth; it is state-sponsored conscription.
This situation poses a serious threat to both the integrity and professionalism of the civil service at both state and national levels. The civil service should be impartial, based on merit, and loyal to the state and the people rather than any political party. Converting civil servants into political pawns erodes institutional integrity and diminishes public trust in governance.
The ADC cautioned that inflated membership figures obtained via intimidation cannot mask the administration's failures, calling upon appropriate authorities to act against this abuse of power and possible breaches of data privacy and human rights.
"A database created through coercion is essentially a hollow shell. A digital roster does not equate to authentic political allegiance; citizens cast votes, not databases. Inflated numbers obtained through coercion might serve propaganda needs but cannot disguise the growing discontent among Nigerians towards a government that has failed to provide economic relief, security, or tangible hope.
The ADC urged relevant authorities, including the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), civil society organizations, labor unions, and the international community, to take serious note of what appears to be state- facilitated abuse of power and a potential violation of privacy and human rights.
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