APC urges Nigerians to reject Atiku, ADC candidates over alleged unpaid staff salaries

Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has accused the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of failing to pay its staff for more than a year, urging Nigerians to reject the party and its candidates in the 2027 general elections.

The council made the allegation in a statement issued on Monday, October 26, 2026, and signed by its spokesperson, Dele Alake.

It accused the ADC’s National Working Committee, led by Senator David Mark as chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as secretary, of neglecting the welfare of party employees despite its promises to Nigerians.

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“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.

“Owing staff who come to work every day and who rely on the salaries for their daily sustenance is wicked and reprehensible.”

The council said the allegation raised questions about the ADC’s credibility and its capacity to manage the country’s affairs if elected into government.

It also criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC’s presidential candidate, alleging that his businesses had previously owed employees salaries.

“While he regularly junkets to the UAE, staff at his Gotel Communication and other businesses also went months without pay and staged protests over unpaid salaries and other benefits,” the statement said.

The APC council further criticised Aregbesola’s record as governor of Osun State, alleging that his administration struggled to pay workers and pensioners during his eight-year tenure.

According to the statement, the administration introduced quarter-salary and, at times, half-salary payments for workers, while pensioners allegedly went unpaid for more than four years.

The council claimed that the alleged failure to meet salary obligations under Aregbesola’s administration reflected poorly on his current role in the ADC.

It described the party’s alleged failure to pay its workforce as evidence of what it called the insincerity of its leaders and their presidential candidate.

The council also accused ADC leaders of being motivated by personal ambition and hostility towards President Bola Tinubu, claims that were not independently substantiated in the statement.

It called on Nigerians, particularly workers, to reject the ADC, Atiku and all candidates contesting under the party in the next general elections.

“A party that aspires to govern Nigeria and which cannot be trusted with something as basic as the management of its own affairs and the welfare of its workforce should be rejected by Nigerians,” the statement said.

The allegations were contained in the APC campaign council’s statement. The ADC’s response was not included in the material provided.