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 return what it claims are unpaid loans and accumulated membership dues amounting to more than N150 million.
According to the party, the alleged financial obligations were accrued during Odigie-Oyegun’s time as a member and leader of the APC, including his period as the party’s first national chairman.
Odigie-Oyegun, who headed the APC between 2014 and 2018, recently left the party for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of an opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 general election.
Following his defection, he has become a prominent critic of the APC and President Bola Tinubu, and has been actively involved in mobilising opposition forces.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Edo APC chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, said the party had previously made several official attempts to recover the alleged debts 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 reads.
Tenebe explained that the claims cover loans reportedly given to Odigie-Oyegun during his tenure as APC national chairman, as well as 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 said.
He noted that making the matter public became unavoidable due to what the party described as Odigie-Oyegun’s continued failure 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,” the statement added.
In his reaction, Odigie-Oyegun brushed aside the allegations, describing them as unfounded and driven by politics.
“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 APC’s response reflected fear of the rising strength of the opposition rather than a willingness to engage constructively.
“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 ruling party of bringing embarrassment to Edo State through acts of violence and intimidation.
“They have dragged Edo State down into the mud. The only thing they can do is violence and unnecessary attacks,” he added.