The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has kicked against the current circulation of forms by the All Progressives Forum (APC) to residents in Imo State demanding their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC), Bank Verification Numbers and other valuable pieces of personal information, describing it as a plot to enlist unsuspecting members of the public into the party.
In a statement issued in Owerri, the State capital, on Monday – earlier today, January 19 – the State Publicity Secretary of ADC, Chief Macdonald Amadi, warned against the circulation of the form in the State, alleging that the form is targeted at groups and institutions in the state ruling party’s alleged “underhand move” to enlist unsuspecting members of Imo public the APC.
“It has come to our attention, through credible reports and public concerns, that a programme described as “e-registration,” allegedly being promoted by the APC-led Imo State Government, may be designed to covertly enlist citizens into the All Progressives Congress (APC) without their clear, informed, and voluntary consent,” the statement read, in part.
”This initiative is reportedly targeted at religious institutions, civil servants, students, artisans, traders, and other critical segments of our society, to present large numbers of Imo citizens as party members by default rather than by free choice.
”The ADC considers this development deeply troubling. In every constitutional democracy, political affiliation is a matter of conscience, conviction, and consent never of coercion, deception, or inducement.
”Any attempt, direct or indirect, to compel citizens into a political party, or to misrepresent civic registration as party membership, offends democratic principles, undermines political pluralism, and constitutes an assault on the freedom of association guaranteed by law.
”We therefore respectfully but firmly advise Ndi-Imo and all residents of Imo State to exercise utmost caution with any process that requires the submission of personal data or the presentation of a Permanent Voter’s Card under unclear, misleading, or politically manipulative circumstances.
”The Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) is a national civic document. It belongs to the Nigerian people, not to any political party. It is meant primarily for elections, not for party enrollment, political profiling, or partisan control.
”We caution against all forms of electoral fraud and pre-election manipulation; anti-democratic doctrines that seek to replace free choice with compulsion; political coercion and inducement disguised as civic programmes.
“We call on religious leaders to preserve the neutrality, moral authority, and sacred trust of their platforms.
”Civil servants are to uphold professionalism, constitutional neutrality, and the ethics of public service. Young people and students need to remain politically conscious, informed, and fearless in defending their future. All citizens of Imo State are to protect their civic rights, ask critical questions, and refuse to surrender their freedom of political choice.
”Democracy thrives where citizens are informed, respected, and empowered. It withers where consent is replaced with confusion, and participation is achieved through fear, pressure, or misrepresentation.
”The African Democratic Congress stands as a party of the people, built on consent, conscience, and collective will not on coercion.”
