The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly rejected 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 Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka described Atiku’s allegation as “mischievous” and lacking any factual basis, arguing that the former vice president failed to provide evidence to support the claim.
According to the ruling party, Atiku’s comments were based on speculation and intended to mislead Nigerians and distract attention from what it described as the Tinubu administration’s achievements.
The APC defended the Service-Wide Vote, explaining that it is a long-standing budgetary mechanism used to cater for government-wide obligations and unforeseen expenditures that arise after the passage of the national budget.
The party said the SWV is a recognised public finance instrument and should not be interpreted as a secret fund or an illegal account, contrary to Atiku’s claims.
The statement also criticised the former vice president’s record in public office, accusing him of repeatedly spreading what it described as false narratives instead of presenting alternative policy proposals.
Highlighting the administration’s programmes, the APC pointed to initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the implementation of the new national minimum wage, the Consumer Credit Scheme, the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative, infrastructure investments, healthcare and agricultural projects, as well as ongoing tax reforms.
The party maintained that President Tinubu’s administration remains focused on implementing its Renewed Hope Agenda through economic reforms, institutional strengthening, infrastructure development and policies aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerians.
The statement comes after Atiku called on President Tinubu to apologise and resign over what he described as discrepancies surrounding the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) accounts and alleged misuse of public funds.
