Reported by: Althiea .P | Edited by: Bornet .k
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected allegations by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that the 2026 Service-Wide Vote (SWV) in the federal budget was designed to finance President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka described the allegation as "baseless, mischievous and misleading," arguing that Atiku failed to provide any evidence to support his claims.
Morka said the accusation was founded on speculation and was intended to mislead Nigerians and divert attention from what the party described as the achievements of the Tinubu administration.
According to the APC spokesperson, the Service-Wide Vote is a long-established budgetary mechanism used to meet government-wide obligations and unforeseen expenditures that arise after the annual budget has been approved.
He maintained that similar contingency funding arrangements exist in many democratic countries and insisted that the Service-Wide Vote is neither a secret fund nor an illegal account, contrary to Atiku's allegation.
"You would think that a former Vice President and someone who has repeatedly sought the presidency would understand the concept of a Service-Wide Vote, which is an elementary principle of public finance," Morka said.
The APC also criticised Atiku's political record, accusing him of failing to present a clear vision for Nigeria despite contesting for the presidency on multiple occasions.
Morka further alleged that the former vice president had resorted to spreading misinformation and making inflammatory claims without factual support, describing such conduct as irresponsible for someone who previously occupied the nation's second-highest office.
The ruling party argued that Nigerians are capable of distinguishing between what it described as politically motivated allegations and the government's ongoing efforts to address economic and governance challenges.
According to the APC, President Tinubu remains focused on implementing reforms, strengthening the economy and transforming national challenges into opportunities rather than engaging in political distractions.
The party's response follows recent comments by Atiku, who reportedly alleged that provisions under the 2026 Service-Wide Vote were intended to support the president's expected 2027 re-election campaign.
At the time of the APC's statement, Atiku had not publicly responded to the party's latest remarks.
The exchange marks another escalation in political rhetoric between the ruling APC and opposition figures as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to gather momentum.
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