The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over alleged failure to pay its staff for more than 12 months, questioning the opposition party’s credibility and capacity to govern Nigeria.

The council also linked the salary arrears allegation to the records of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC’s presidential candidate, and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who serves as the party’s national secretary.

In a statement issued on Monday, the spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Alake, accused the ADC National Working Committee, led by Senator David Mark as national chairman and Aregbesola as secretary, of neglecting the welfare of party employees.

The council described the alleged failure to pay salaries as unacceptable, arguing that a political party aspiring to lead the country should demonstrate responsibility in managing its internal affairs and meeting its obligations to workers.

“It is 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 alleged that the affected employees continued to report for work despite depending on their salaries for their daily needs.

It argued that the development raised questions about the sincerity of the ADC leadership and its promises to improve the welfare of Nigerians if elected into office in 2027.

The council further accused Atiku of having a history of delayed salary payments in his business operations, citing Gotel Communications and other businesses associated with the former vice president.

According to the statement, some employees of the businesses had allegedly gone months without salaries and other benefits, prompting protests over their outstanding entitlements.

The APC campaign council also criticised Aregbesola’s eight-year administration in Osun State, alleging that his handling of workers’ salaries and pension payments left civil servants and retirees facing financial difficulties.

It recalled that the former governor’s administration introduced half-salary and quarter-salary payments for workers amid the state’s financial challenges.

The council further alleged that pensioners experienced prolonged delays in receiving their entitlements, claiming that the situation exposed many retirees to severe hardship.

Using the allegations against Atiku and Aregbesola to challenge the ADC’s leadership, the APC campaign council said the party’s management of its workforce should be scrutinised as Nigerians prepare for the next general elections.

“We are therefore not surprised that ADC, harbouring birds of the same feather, cannot pay its workers’ salaries,” the statement said.

The council urged Nigerians, particularly workers, to assess the records of political parties and their leaders before making electoral choices in 2027.

It called on voters to reject the ADC, Atiku and other candidates of the party, arguing that an organisation unable to meet its obligations to its employees should not be entrusted with the responsibility of managing the country.

The statement, however, did not specify the number of ADC employees allegedly affected, the total amount of outstanding salaries or the circumstances surrounding the reported arrears.

The allegations concerning Atiku’s businesses and Aregbesola’s record in Osun State were not independently verified in the statement. The ADC leadership’s response was also not included.