Enugu Teachers Cry Out Over Alleged Forced APC Registration, Threat to Jobs

​ENUGU — Tension is mounting within the Enugu State civil service as primary school teachers and non-teaching staff allege they are being coerced by local government authorities to register as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or face immediate dismissal.

​The controversy stems from the ongoing APC electronic membership registration drive, which was flagged off earlier this year following Governor Peter Mbah’s high-profile defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in late 2025. The state government has publicly set an ambitious target of two million registered members to cement its “alignment with the center.”

​“Register or Be Sacked”

​Multiple sources within the teaching service, particularly in Udenu and Isi-Uzo Local Government Areas, have described a climate of fear. According to reports, teachers were summoned to designated halls—such as the Adada Hall in Nsukka—and instructed to provide their National Identification Numbers (NIN), voter cards, and bank account details for the e-registration exercise.

​”It is not by choice; it is by force,” one teacher, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, told reporters. “We were told that if we do not fill the forms and register our family members, we would risk losing our jobs or have our salaries withheld. Many of us are now members of the APC against our will just to protect our livelihoods.”

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​The directive allegedly extends to the families of government employees, with supervisors reportedly demanding the NINs of spouses and adult children to meet the state’s aggressive quotas.

​APC Dismisses Allegations as “Propaganda”

​In a swift reaction, the Enugu State Chapter of the APC has denied any form of compulsion. Dr. Ben Nwoye, a chieftain of the party and coordinator of the exercise, described the allegations as “politically motivated propaganda” designed to distract from the party’s growing momentum in the South-East.

​”Nobody is being forced,” Nwoye stated during a recent membership revalidation event. “The registration is voluntary, and people are participating freely because they see the developmental strides of Governor Peter Mbah. The opposition is simply uncomfortable with our success.”

​A Shift in the Political Landscape

​The mass registration drive is part of a broader strategy to transform Enugu into a “one-party state” under the APC banner. Governor Mbah has frequently stated that the era of “fragmented politics” is over, arguing that Enugu must align with President Bola Tinubu’s administration to secure federal benefits.

​However, civil society groups and labor unions have expressed concern over the blurring lines between state administration and party politics. Critics argue that using civil servants as political pawns violates the neutrality of the civil service and infringes on the fundamental right to freedom of association.

​As the January 30th deadline for the exercise has passed and extension efforts continue, the atmosphere remains thick with unease. For many Enugu teachers, the “Smart School” initiative and other government reforms are now being overshadowed by the ultimatum currently hanging over their careers.