Defection drama: APC demands N150m loan, dues from ex-chair Odigie-Oyegun

Oyegun

The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has demanded that a former National Chairman of the party and ex-governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, repay what it described as outstanding loans and accumulated membership dues amounting to over N150m.

The party said the alleged debts were incurred during Odigie-Oyegun’s years as a member and leader of the APC, including his tenure as the party’s pioneer national chairman.

Odigie-Oyegun, who served as APC national chairman from 2014 to 2018, recently defected to the African Democratic Congress as part of a growing opposition coalition seeking to unseat the APC in the 2027 general election.

He has since emerged as a vocal critic of the ruling party and President Bola Tinubu, playing an active role in mobilising opposition forces nationwide.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Edo State APC Chairman, Mr Jarrett Tenebe, the party claimed that Odigie-Oyegun had ignored several formal demands to settle the liabilities.

“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.

According to Tenebe, the liabilities include loans allegedly advanced to Odigie-Oyegun during his tenure as APC national chairman, as well as accumulated membership dues which he allegedly failed to remit throughout his period of membership.

“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,” Tenebe said.

He added that the public demand became necessary following what the party described as Oyegun’s continued refusal to honour his financial 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,” the statement added.

Reacting to the allegations, Odigie-Oyegun dismissed the claims as baseless and politically motivated, describing them as a sign of panic within the APC over the rising profile of the ADC.

“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.” Punch