The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has cut off power supply to the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over N1.7 million debt.

Curiously, the party, according to our findings, has generated over N250 million this year, from the sale of Nomination and Expression of Interest forms for the Edo and Ondo states’ governorship primaries.

Blueprint gathered that the situation had gone so bad that junior workers at the party secretariat now contribute money daily for diesel to power the generator for few hours.

It was also learnt that out of the said debt, the sum of N500,000 had already been settled, as shown by the AEDC’s receipt pasted at the main entrance of the party’s premises.

A source, who spoke under anonymity, also revealed that the disconnection was carried out penultimate week, leaving the secretariat, located at Blantyre Street, Wuse 11, Abuja, running on diesel.

Another party source explained that the electricity company’s bill “is lying on the table of the party’s National Treasurer, Alhaji Muhammed Gwagwarwa, because of lack of money.”

None of the sources could, however, state the number of months covered by the outstanding debt.

The development has forced the party officials out of office as our correspondent could not get to speak with neither Gwagwara nor any other party official for their comment.

“You can’t get any of them around. They can’t stay here now because the whole place is hot,” said one of our sources. Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, it would be recalled, had insisted that “every government agency must pay its electricity bill for it to enjoy power.”

Fashola, an APC chieftain, said the sector had been privatised and being run by private entities who invested their money, saying “for them to continue in the business and provide service, they must recoup their investments and make profits.”

Also, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had emphasised prompt payment of electricity bills as a prerequisite for improvement in power supply.

•Text courtesy of Blueprint.

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