By Jane Okafor, Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has launched a scathing attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his allegation that the Federal Government's 2026 Service-Wide Vote (SWV) was earmarked to finance President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's 2027 re-election campaign, describing the claim as false, reckless and borne out of ignorance of public finance. In a statement issued on Wednesday by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC accused the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate of making unsubstantiated allegations designed to mislead Nigerians and distract attention from what it described as the achievements of the Tinubu administration. The ruling party said Atiku failed to provide any evidence to support his allegation, insisting that the Service-Wide Vote is a legitimate and globally recognised budgetary mechanism used to cater for government-wide obligations and unforeseen expenditures after the passage of the annual budget. According to the APC, the former vice president's comments either reflected "highly mischievous" intentions or a "disturbing ignorance" of the principles guiding public finance. "You would think that a former Vice President, a man with the longest-standing ambition to be president of Nigeria, would understand the concept and instrument of a Service-Wide Vote, an elementary principle of public finance," the statement said. The party stressed that the Service-Wide Vote is neither a secret fund nor an illegal slush account, as allegedly portrayed by Atiku, noting that similar contingency provisions exist in many democracies around the world. The APC also turned the spotlight on Atiku's record in public office, claiming his criticism of the Tinubu administration was ironic given what it described as his "sordid past." "The ghost of his sordid past haunts Atiku. Ironically, a man whose reputation as a public servant is mired in some of Nigeria's darkest episodes of mindless corruption and profligacy would attempt to smear a high-achieving administration and lecture Nigerians on matters of fiscal responsibility and budgetary transparency," the statement added. The party further described Atiku as a "serial presidential contestant" who had consistently failed to present a coherent development agenda for Nigeria, accusing him instead of spreading misinformation and "doomsday narratives." Defending the Tinubu administration's economic policies, the APC cited several initiatives it said demonstrated prudent management of public resources. These include the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), implementation of the new national minimum wage, the Consumer Credit Scheme, the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative, food and other palliative programmes, as well as increased investments in infrastructure, healthcare and agriculture. The ruling party also highlighted ongoing tax reforms aimed at simplifying the tax system, promoting economic growth and reducing the tax burden on low-income Nigerians. Reaffirming its commitment to the administration's agenda, the APC said it remained focused on delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda through economic reforms, infrastructure development, institutional strengthening and improved living standards for Nigerians. The statement comes amid growing political exchanges between the ruling APC and opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general election.
