- PDP: We’ll Do Whatever It Takes To Srenghten Our Party, Sack Tinubu
- ADC Accuses APC Of Forcing Civil Servants To Register To Join Party
- Urges Data Protection Commission, Labour Union, Others To Intervene
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is intensifying efforts to rebuild internal cohesion and forge broad political alliances as part of its strategy for the 2027 general elections.
Caretaker National Vice-Chairman (South-South), Emmanuel Ogidi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), stressing that the party remains committed to defending democracy and repositioning itself as a credible opposition despite ongoing internal disagreements.
Ogidi acknowledged that the PDP is grappling with “pockets of trouble” but insisted the challenges would not derail its mission of safeguarding democratic governance and restoring public confidence. He described the party as the “only viable opposition” and vowed it would not disappoint Nigerians.
According to him, the PDP is fully aware of the seriousness of the country’s current political climate and is determined to live up to the expectations of Nigerians who see the party as a stabilising force in the democratic process.
“Yes, today we have some pockets of trouble in the PDP today, but we are resolute and we believe in God because we know that we are the only viable opposition.
“We are going to fight for that cause; we will do whatever it takes to ensure that we have democracy; if we do not have democracy, then we will have a banana republic.
“We understand this part, and because of that, we will not disappoint the people; we want to do whatever it takes and we are determined.
“We are going to reach out to anybody reachable in the other political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We want to see what we can take away from these parties; else, this country will face more serious challenges,” he said.
Ogidi said the PDP’s central focus going into the 2027 elections would be the protection of democracy, promotion of national unity and offering Nigerians a credible alternative to the ruling party.
He accused the APC of prioritising electoral victories over effective governance, questioning why the ruling party, less than two years into office, appeared more focused on political campaigns than addressing governance challenges.
The PDP chieftain warned that the erosion of democratic institutions could plunge the country into instability, assuring that the party would do everything within its capacity to prevent such an outcome.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has raised the alarm over what it described as widespread and coordinated attempts to compel Nigerian civil servants to register for the APC, through its ongoing e-registration exercise.
This was contained in a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.
The ADC said it had received consistent reports from different parts of the country alleging that public servants are being pressured to register for the ruling party as a condition for job security, career progression, or continued access to their livelihoods.
The party described the development as unacceptable in a democratic society, warning that compelling citizens to belong to a political party amounts to a gross violation of fundamental human rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the ADC, freedom of thought, conscience, and association are inalienable rights that cannot be granted or withdrawn by any government or ruling party.
It argued that what the APC refers to as “e-registration” is increasingly taking the form of economic coercion and forced political membership.
“A political party that genuinely enjoys popular support does not need to conscript citizens through fear, intimidation, or the weaponisation of the payroll,” the statement said, adding that pressuring civil servants to register for a party they do not believe in amounts to what it termed “state-sponsored conscription,” rather than genuine party growth.
The ADC further warned that the alleged practice poses a serious threat to the integrity and professionalism of the Nigerian civil service, which it said is constitutionally expected to remain neutral, merit-based, and loyal to the state rather than to any political party.
The party noted that turning civil servants into partisan tools undermines institutional credibility and erodes public trust in governance.
It also dismissed claims that a growing digital membership register reflects real political support, stressing that databases built through coercion do not translate into votes at the ballot box.
“Databases do not vote; citizens do,” the statement said, adding that inflated figures achieved through intimidation may serve propaganda purposes but cannot conceal what it described as growing public alienation from a government struggling with economic hardship, insecurity, and declining public confidence.
The ADC called on relevant authorities, including the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), labour unions, civil society organisations, and the international community, to closely monitor the situation, warning that it may constitute an abuse of power as well as potential violations of data privacy and human rights.
