APC accuses ADC of owing staff for over year

Abdullateef Fowewe

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has accused the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of failing to pay its staff for more than 12 months, saying the party cannot be trusted to govern Nigeria if it cannot meet basic obligations to its workers.

In a statement issued on Monday by the council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, the APC camp alleged that the ADC National Working Committee, led by National Chairman Senator David Mark and National Secretary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had “refused and neglected” to pay party employees.

Alake described the alleged unpaid salaries as “wicked and reprehensible,” arguing that workers who report daily depend on their wages for survival.

“We find it unconscionable that a political party that has made many grandiose promises to hoodwink Nigerians owes its workers for more than 12 months,” the statement said.

The APC campaign council also linked the allegation to the party’s broader fitness for office, saying, “A party that cannot pay its cleaners and workforce cannot be entrusted with our country’s affairs.”

Alake further alleged that ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had a history of salary delays at his businesses, including Gotel Communications, claiming that staff had previously protested over unpaid wages and benefits.

He also criticised Aregbesola’s record as Osun State governor, alleging that workers were sometimes paid “quarter-salary” or “half-salary,” while pensioners were abandoned for more than four years.

“The record of the ADC General Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, on paying workers’ salaries and pensioners in Osun State, where he was a governor for 8 years, was abysmal,” Alake said.

The APC campaign council urged Nigerian workers and voters to reject the ADC, Atiku Abubakar and all its candidates in the next general elections.

“We are sounding a warning to Nigerians and working people now: reject ADC. Reject Atiku Abubakar and reject all ADC candidates in the next general elections,” the statement said.