The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has accused the African Democratic Congress (ADC) of owing its workers more than 12 months’ salaries, arguing that the alleged failure raises questions about the party’s ability to govern Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that Dele Alake, spokesperson for the APC campaign council, made the allegation in a statement on Monday, describing the reported non-payment of salaries as “wicked and reprehensible”.
Alake said the alleged development showed that the ADC and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, whom he identified as the party’s presidential candidate, could not be trusted to manage the country’s affairs.
“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,” he said.
“Owing staff who come to work every day and who rely on the salaries for their daily sustenance is wicked and reprehensible.”
The APC spokesperson argued that the allegation exposed what he described as the “emptiness and insincerity” of those portraying themselves as “new saviours” for Nigeria.
He also accused Atiku of having a history of salary arrears involving his businesses, alleging that employees of Gotel Communication and other enterprises linked to the former vice-president had experienced months without pay and staged protests over unpaid salaries and other benefits.
Alake further criticised the record of Rauf Aregbesola, ADC national secretary, regarding workers’ salaries and pensions during his eight-year tenure as governor of Osun State.
He alleged that Aregbesola’s administration introduced quarter-salary payments and, at times, half-salary payments for workers, while pensioners reportedly went unpaid for more than four years.
“We are therefore not surprised that ADC, harbouring birds of the same feather, cannot pay its workers’ salaries,” Alake said.
The APC campaign council spokesperson urged Nigerians to reject the ADC, Atiku and other candidates of the party in the 2027 general election, alleging that they lacked genuine concern for the welfare of the country and its citizens.
“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,” Alake added.
The allegations against the ADC, Atiku and Aregbesola were made by the APC campaign council in its statement. The statement, as provided, did not include a response from the accused parties.
