John Oyegun Kicks as Edo APC Demands N150m Alleged Debt

The Edo chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked John Odigie-Oyegun, a former national chairman of the party and ex-governor of Edo, to repay what it described as outstanding loans and accumulated membership dues totalling over N150 million.

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

Odigie-Oyegun, who led the APC from 2014 to 2018, recently defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as part of an opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.

Since his defection, he has emerged as a vocal critic of the ruling party and President Bola Tinubu, playing an active role in opposition mobilisation.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Jarrett Tenebe, chairman of the APC in Edo, said the party had made several formal demands for the settlement of 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 said the liabilities include loans allegedly advanced to Odigie-Oyegun during his tenure as APC national chairman as well as accumulated 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 added that the public demand became necessary due to what the party described as Odigie-Oyegun’s refusal to honour 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.

Responding, Odigie-Oyegun dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated.

“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 said the APC was reacting to the growing influence of the opposition with hostility rather than constructive engagement.

“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 dragging Edo state into disrepute through violence and intimidation.