ADC alleges plot by APC to enlist unsuspecting Imo residents into APC

From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has kicked against ongoing circulation of forms by the All Progressives Forum (APC) to residents in Imo State demanding their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC), Bank Verification Number (BVN) and other valuable information, describing it as a plot to enlist them into its party.

State Publicity Secretary of ADC, Chief Macdonald Amadi, who warned against the circulation of the form in a statement, alleged the form is targeted at groups and institutions to get members enlisted in its party.

“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.”