APC Slams Atiku Over Service-Wide Vote Allegation, Says Former VP ‘Haunted by Ghost of His Sordid Past’
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed allegations by the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, that the 2026 Service-Wide Vote (SWV) was earmarked to fund President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, describing the claim as baseless, mischievous and a reflection of the former vice president’s “disturbing ignorance” of public finance.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party accused Atiku of making sensational allegations without evidence and attempting to mislead Nigerians.
According to the APC, Atiku failed to provide any facts to support his claims, insisting that the Service-Wide Vote is a legitimate and long-established budgetary mechanism used to cater for government-wide obligations and unforeseen expenditures after the passage of the annual budget.
“His recent allegation that the 2026 budgetary Service-Wide Vote was set aside to fund President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 reelection campaign is either highly mischievous or shows disturbing ignorance of basic principles of public finance,” Morka said.
The party argued that the Service-Wide Vote is neither a secret fund nor an illegal slush account, adding that similar contingency arrangements exist in many democratic countries around the world.
The APC also launched a personal attack on the former vice president, claiming his criticisms were influenced by his own past in government.
“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 ruling party further accused Atiku of lacking a clear developmental agenda despite contesting the presidency multiple times.
“As a serial presidential contestant, Atiku has never once articulated a clear vision or coherent plan for Nigeria’s development but has remained a petty peddler of fake news and doomsday narratives,” Morka stated.
Highlighting the achievements of the Tinubu administration, 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, expanded investments in infrastructure, healthcare and agriculture, as well as ongoing tax reforms.
The party maintained that the Tinubu administration remains committed to implementing its Renewed Hope Agenda and improving the living conditions of Nigerians through sustained economic reforms and institutional development.
