ABOMINATION: Ebonyi APC govt pressures traditional rulers to join party or lose their titles

DDM News

A disturbing video circulating widely on social media has ignited fresh concerns over political coercion in Nigeria.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) can confirm that the footage shows a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State threatening traditional rulers with removal if they refuse to join the ruling party.

According to the clip, traditional rulers who fail to align with the APC may have their certificates of recognition revoked.

Watch video below:

This effectively means they would be stripped of their chieftaincy titles and lose their official status as community leaders.

The directive, allegedly linked to the state governor, implies a dangerous use of political power to enforce party loyalty.

Observers say this kind of coercion runs contrary to Nigeria’s democratic principles, where freedom of association and political choice are constitutional rights.

In the video, APC members are heard insisting that no traditional ruler should remain neutral or align with the opposition.

The threat has drawn condemnation from civil rights advocates and democracy watchdogs across the country.

Many citizens view it as a blatant attempt to suppress dissent and erode the independence of traditional institutions.

Ebonyi, like other states, recognizes traditional rulers through formal documentation provided by the state government.

However, critics argue that using these instruments as political weapons is undemocratic and dangerous.

Traditional leaders are expected to be apolitical custodians of culture and not pawns in partisan politics.

Forcing them into political parties, analysts warn, could damage their credibility and fracture their communities.

“It’s a descent into authoritarianism,” said one Abuja-based legal analyst.

“The constitution protects freedom of association, and no government has the right to force party membership on anyone.”

Political interference in traditional institutions is not new in Nigeria, but the brazenness of this development has raised fresh alarms.

Many fear it could set a precedent where loyalty to the ruling party becomes a prerequisite for recognition.

Citizens across the country have taken to social media to denounce the move as tyrannical and divisive.

Some have called on the National Assembly and the National Council of Traditional Rulers to urgently intervene.

In a democracy, they argue, no leader should threaten citizens or traditional authorities for exercising their rights.

Analysts warn that political intimidation, if not checked, could stoke unrest and weaken Nigeria’s fragile democracy.

The people of Ebonyi State deserve leadership that respects both the constitution and the cultural heritage of its communities.

Opposition parties have also condemned the development, demanding that President Bola Tinubu call the Ebonyi State governor to order.

Meanwhile, traditional rulers in the state are said to be under pressure, with some reportedly contemplating resignation or public opposition.

Many fear reprisals, especially in rural areas where the state government controls resources and local security.

Calls are growing for civil society groups to document and challenge such abuses through legal and constitutional means.

As of press time, the Ebonyi State government has not issued a formal statement addressing the viral video.

However, insiders suggest that the backlash may force a retraction or clarification in the coming days.

The Nigerian public continues to watch developments closely, with many calling this a testcase for democracy under the current administration.

Stay connected for this developing news

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook