Outrage in Enugu as Nsukka LG Chair Accused of Forcing Council Workers to Register With APC

Allegations of political coercion have triggered public anger in Enugu State after claims that the chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area ordered council workers to compulsorily register with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The accusation surfaced on Monday following a Facebook post by social media commentator Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, who described the alleged directive as an abuse of power and a breach of workers’ constitutional rights to freedom of association.

Claims of mandatory registration

According to Ugwuanyi, teaching and non-teaching staff employed by Nsukka LGA were instructed to report to Adada Hall for an APC electronic registration exercise. Workers were allegedly told to come along with their National Identification Number (NIN), voter cards, and bank account details.

He claimed the exercise was presented as compulsory, with implied threats of job loss, intimidation and victimisation for those who failed to comply.

To support his claim, Ugwuanyi shared what he said was a message circulated to head teachers across Nsukka Local Government and its development centres. The message allegedly directed all teaching and non-teaching staff to attend the registration by 9am, while schools were asked to release staff in batches to avoid leaving pupils unattended.

‘Politics should not be enforced by fear’

Condemning the alleged move, Ugwuanyi argued that no government or elected official has the authority to compel civil servants to belong to any political party as a condition for keeping their jobs.

He warned that political participation must be voluntary, not driven by fear, suggesting the alleged exercise could be linked to efforts to swell party membership ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“This is a sad development happening in Nsukka LGA,” he wrote, adding that forcing workers to register with a political party undermines democracy and personal conscience.

Workers confirm directive

DAILY POST spoke to several primary school teachers under Nsukka Local Government, some of whom confirmed that the instruction had been circulated internally.

One teacher, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation, said preparations were already under way to attend the exercise.

“Yes, it’s true. My head teacher has informed us that we must go. The information is also on our WhatsApp platform,” she said.

Silence from council leadership

As of the time of filing this report, Nsukka Local Government Chairman, Jude Asogwa, had not issued any public response to the allegations.

The controversy has continued to spark debate online, with rights advocates and political observers calling for clarity from the local government and urging authorities to uphold the neutrality of the civil service.