The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has dismissed allegations that local government officials are compelling civil servants to join or renew their membership of the party as a condition for salary payment.
The party described the claims as false and politically motivated, insisting that its ongoing registration and revalidation exercise across the state is entirely voluntary.
The clarification was made on Tuesday by the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee in Enugu State, Dr Ben Nwoye, while speaking with journalists during a membership revalidation exercise held at Udi/Agbudu Ward in Udi Local Government Area. The event also featured the revalidation of the party’s former state chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Agballah.
Nwoye said participants at the exercise were not under any form of pressure, stressing that turnout was driven by genuine interest in the party rather than coercion.
He maintained that opposition parties were spreading false narratives to discredit the process, adding that no government worker in the state had been forced to register with the APC.
According to him, available data from the party’s registration records shows strong participation across the state, with Enugu currently leading the South-East in the ongoing exercise. He also noted that Udi Local Government Area ranks highest among the 17 councils in the state.
While acknowledging that some registration data was still being uploaded due to network challenges in rural communities, he insisted that the figures already available placed Enugu ahead of other states in the region.
The APC chairman also linked the increased participation to growing internal unity within the party and rising support for the administration of Governor Peter Mbah.
During the exercise, Chief Ugochukwu Agballah, who revalidated his membership, urged party members to remain committed and disciplined, saying unity and inclusion would be key to future electoral success.
He added that the ongoing registration drive is central to the party’s political strategy, arguing that higher membership numbers would translate into stronger electoral performance.
Agballah also expressed support for the current leadership structure of the APC in Enugu State and commended Governor Mbah for what he described as efforts to promote inclusiveness and resolve internal party disagreements.
The revalidation exercise attracted lawmakers, local government officials and other party stakeholders, who APC leaders said demonstrated renewed unity and growing momentum within the party ahead of future elections.
