The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on John Odigie-Oyegun, a former national chairman of the party and ex-governor of Edo, to repay what it described as outstanding loans and unpaid membership dues amounting to more than N150 million.
The party said the alleged financial obligations were accumulated during Odigie-Oyegun’s years in the APC, including the period he served as the party’s pioneer national chairman.
Odigie-Oyegun, who headed the APC between 2014 and 2018, recently defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of a broader opposition alliance preparing for the 2027 general election.
Since leaving the ruling party, he has become an outspoken critic of both the APC and President Bola Tinubu, while taking a prominent role in opposition mobilisation.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Edo APC chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, said repeated attempts had been made to recover the alleged debts, but without success.
“The All Progressives Congress in Edo State wishes to inform the general public that, as a law-abiding and people-centred political organisation, we have formally demanded the settlement of debts owed by the National Leader of the African Democratic Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun,” the statement said.
Tenebe claimed the liabilities include loans allegedly given to Odigie-Oyegun while he was APC national chairman, as well as long-standing unpaid membership dues.
“Our records also reveal accumulated membership dues which the ADC National Leader refused to pay into the party’s coffers all through the period of his membership of the APC,” he added.
According to Tenebe, the decision to go public was taken after the former party leader allegedly failed to meet his obligations.
“This open demand has become necessary due to the refusal by Chief Oyegun to settle his commitments to the APC — the same party that gave him the platform to tower politically,” he said.
Reacting to the claim, Odigie-Oyegun rejected the allegations, describing them as unfounded and driven by political motives.
“People will have a good laugh at that,” he said.
“Negative as what they are doing may be, it finally shows that they now know they have problems with the advent of the ADC.”
He argued that the ruling party was responding to the rise of the opposition with attacks instead of addressing its challenges.
“They now know they are in trouble. We are ready for them. Whatever they do, we are ready. They are finally acknowledging that there is a threat to them in Nigeria,” he said.
Odigie-Oyegun also accused the APC of damaging Edo State’s image through intimidation and violence.
“They have dragged Edo State down into the mud. The only thing they can do is violence and unnecessary attacks,” he added.
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