By Simeon OSAJIE
The Edo Staten chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on a former national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to promptly pay his outstanding debts to the party. The debts according to APC arose from alleged loans and accumulated membership dues spanning several years when he was listed as member of the party.
According to statement from Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, State Chairman of the party, the call became necessary after the former governor of Edo State allegedly refuse to respond to official demands for the settlement of the debts, which he claimed are in excess of N150million.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State wishes to inform the general public that as a law abiding people-centred political organization, that we have demanded debts owed by the National Chairman of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
“The said debts forms part of loans that were advanced to the former governor of our dear state when he served as a national chairman of APC.
“Our records reveal also accumulated membership dues which ADC national leader refused to pay to our party’s coffers all through the period of his membership of APC.
“This open demand had become necessary due to the outright refusal by Chief Oyegun to settle his commitment to the APC, the party that gave him space to tower politically.” The Edo State APC Chairman, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe stressed.
But reacting to the allegations, Odigie-Oyegun dismissed the allegations as baseless, describing them as a sign of panic within the ruling APC.
The National Leader of the ADC said the allegations were driven by growing unease within the APC following the emergence of the ADC as a strong political force.
“People will have a good laugh at that. All I can say is that, negative as what they are doing, it finally shows that they now know they have problems with the advent of the ADC,” he said.
He accused the APC of responding to the rise of the ADC with hostility rather than constructive political engagement.