The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed allegations by former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, that the 2026 Service-Wide Vote (SWV) in the federal budget was earmarked to fund President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party described Atiku’s claim as “mischievous, misleading and borne out of ignorance” of basic public finance principles.
Atiku had reportedly alleged that funds contained in the 2026 Service-Wide Vote were being set aside to finance President Tinubu’s political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general election.
Reacting, the APC said the allegation lacked any factual basis and was intended to distract Nigerians from what it described as the achievements of the Tinubu administration.
The party explained that the Service-Wide Vote is a long-established budgetary mechanism designed to cater for government-wide obligations and unforeseen expenditures that may arise after the passage of the annual budget.
According to the APC, similar contingency arrangements exist in many countries and should not be misconstrued as a secret fund or illegal slush account.
“You would think that a former Vice President and serial presidential contestant would understand the concept and instrument of a Service-Wide Vote, an elementary principle of public finance,” the statement said.
The APC further accused Atiku of attempting to project his alleged past shortcomings onto the current administration, insisting that President Tinubu’s government has remained committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility and economic reforms.
The ruling party argued that rather than presenting alternative policy proposals to Nigerians, Atiku had continued to engage in what it called the spread of false narratives and unsubstantiated allegations.
Morka maintained that Nigerians could clearly distinguish between what he described as the Tinubu administration’s performance-driven governance and the opposition’s criticism.
The APC highlighted several initiatives undertaken by the administration, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the implementation of the new national minimum wage, the Consumer Credit Scheme, and the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative.
Other programmes cited by the party include social intervention measures for vulnerable households, increased investments in infrastructure, healthcare and agriculture, industrialisation efforts aimed at job creation, and ongoing tax reforms designed to simplify the tax system and stimulate economic growth.
The party reiterated its commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that the administration remains focused on economic recovery, institutional reforms, infrastructure development and improving the welfare of Nigerians.
The APC urged Nigerians to disregard what it described as unfounded allegations and remain focused on the government’s efforts to address the country’s challenges and drive sustainable development.
