The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has disclosed that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) inherited a staggering ₦8,987,874,663 in debts upon assuming office.
Ganduje made the revelation during the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. The high-profile gathering was attended by President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, state governors, and other top party leaders.
Addressing the NEC, Ganduje attributed the party’s dire financial situation to mounting legal expenses incurred during pre-election disputes, election litigations, and appeals across various levels, including legislative, governorship, and presidential elections.
> “The current NWC inherited debts and legal liabilities to the total tune of ₦8,987,874,663, arising from various legal engagements,” Ganduje stated.
Despite this financial strain, the party’s National Legal Adviser, Prof. Abdul Kareem Kana (SAN), has been working on negotiating settlements and exploring alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to ease the burden.
The APC chairman further revealed that some of the party’s bank accounts remain under garnishee orders, restricting financial operations. He passionately appealed to the National Executive Committee for urgent intervention.
> “We still passionately appeal to the National Executive Committee to intervene accordingly,” he pleaded.
This revelation comes amid lingering questions about the APC’s financial management. In April 2022, former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu defended the party’s decision to set its presidential nomination form at a whopping ₦100 million, citing the “magnitude and significance” of the Nigerian presidency.
During a previous NEC meeting attended by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, the party unveiled its controversial nomination fees ahead of the 2023 general elections:
₦100 million for presidential aspirants (₦30 million for expression of interest, ₦70 million for nomination form).
₦50 million for governorship aspirants.
₦20 million for senatorial aspirants.
₦10 million for House of Representatives aspirants.
₦2 million for State House of Assembly aspirants.
Mounting Questions Over APC’s Financial Management
With nearly ₦9 billion in inherited debt, concerns are mounting over how a ruling party that generated billions from nomination fees still finds itself in financial distress. The latest disclosure by Ganduje raises fresh debates on APC’s internal accountability, transparency, and fiscal prudence.
As the party navigates its financial crisis, the big question remains: Who is responsible for APC’s mounting debt, and how will the ruling party recover from it?
PIONEER NEWS 