A leadership Crises has erupted within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) after leaked financial logs alleged cash-for-ticket scandal ahead of 2027 polls.
Chief Primus Odili, a prominent party financier and former Chief of Staff to the ex-Governor of Anambra State, has confronted the APGA National Chairman, Mr. Sylvester Ezeokenwa, demanding an immediate refund of several thousand dollars and millions of naira over a failed senatorial ticket deal.
In an itemized message that has gone viral on social media, Odili requested the liquidation of specific cash payments he claims were made to secure the party’s endorsement for the Anambra North Senatorial District ticket.
While stating that the party chairman could keep various luxury items including designer clothes, shoes, and perfumes as gifts, Odili insisted on a refund of the hard currency and bank transfers.
The leaked transaction log details $5,000 cash allegedly delivered in two tranches to the National Chairman’s private residence, $1,500 cash allegedly delivered across two occasions at the residence of a Catholic priest, and ₦8 million total in direct bank transfers made across three transactions to anonymous business accounts.
The leak has drawn sharp criticism from civil society and legal experts, with prominent human rights advocate Professor Chidi Odinkalu publicly sharing screenshots of the cash logs to criticize the monetization of internal party democracy.
In a comprehensive rebuttal, APGA National Chairman Sylvester Ezeokenwa strongly denied the allegations, characterizing Odili’s claims as malicious blackmail, fabrications, and “election loss-induced hallucinations.” Ezeokenwa stated that he never promised Odili the senatorial ticket, pointing out that under the Electoral Act amended earlier this year, political party tickets can no longer be manipulated by party executives due to the mandatory use of direct primaries or consensus modes. He maintained that Odili simply lost a free and fair direct primary election controlled by party members in Anambra North.
Addressing the financial allegations, the APGA chairman denied receiving hundreds of millions of naira or any real estate properties, debunking rumors that he accepted a house in Lagos from rival politicians to tilt the primaries.
Ezeokenwa clarified that the only funds he received from Odili since 2024 amounted to less than $1,000 across three occasions, distributed as seasonal holiday and birthday gifts.
He added that an unsolicited cash envelope sent to him had already been returned, and challenged Odili to swear an oath before the Blessed Sacrament of the Catholic Church to test the truth of the extortion allegations.
