Enugu Workers Allege Being Forced To Register With APC

Some primary school teachers and non-teaching staffers in Enugu State have claimed they are being forced to register with the All Progressives Congress as members.

Those who spoke with THE WHISTLER said there was a directive by various local government chairmen for the workers to submit themselves for registration.

“It’s true,” says a primary school teacher in Udenu Local Government Area. “It is an order, and we have started abiding by it. It is not by choice, but by force. We are now members of APC, whether you like it or not. What we want in any case is good governance. I have not seen any difference between APC and PDP.”

Another teacher at Ikem in Isi-Uzo LGA said it is a statewide move to convert everybody to APC.

“That is why council chairmen are carrying the e-registration on their heads. The state targets two million members. It is only achievable through coercion, which they are already doing. Unfortunately, the opposition and human rights agencies have kept quiet,” said the teacher who refused to be mentioned.

A social media influencer, Sen Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, earlier accused the Chairman of Nsukka LGA of forcing workers of the council to join APC. He claimed that teaching and non-teaching staff in the council were allegedly directed to report to Adada Hall for APC electronic registration, with instructions to present their National Identification Number, NIN, voters’ cards and bank account details.

He buttressed his claims by posting a message one of the teachers allegedly forwarded to him. He quoted the teacher’s message thus, “Good afternoon head teachers and happy Sunday to you all.

“As a matter of urgency, the executive chairman of Nsukka Local government Area, Hon Engr #Jude Asogwa, requires the presence of all the teaching and non-teaching staff in Nsukka local government (both the dev centres) tomorrow unfailingly for e-registration, which requires your NIN, voters card and your account details at Adada hall by 9am. It’s mandatory to all the teaching and non-staff of Nsukka Local government Area. Inform and organise your staff so that they come in batches to avoid living the pupils alone in the school premises without supervision.”

Meanwhile, APC, Enugu State, has denied allegations that local government chairmen are coercing government workers to register or revalidate their membership with the party as a condition for receiving their salaries.

Its acting Chairman, Dr Ben Nwoye, said during the revalidation of membership of the party’s immediate past state chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Agballah, at Udi/Agbudu Ward in Udi Local Government Area, that the membership is voluntary.

He accused opposition parties of spreading misinformation to undermine the exercise.

In his words, “When you don’t have progressive ideas, the easiest thing is to resort to propaganda. No government worker in Enugu State is being forced to register with the APC.”

He explained that the ongoing membership drive in Enugu State was paying off as Enugu currently leads the South-East zone in the ongoing membership drive, with Udi LGA ranking first among the state’s 17 local government areas.

Nwoye said the surge in APC in the state was a result of the party’s internal unity and growing public support for the administration of Governor Peter Mbah.