APC Knocks Atiku Over 2027 Campaign Funding Allegation, Says Ex-VP ‘Haunted by His Sordid Past’

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s allegation that the 2026 Service-Wide Vote (SWV) was set aside to finance President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.

The ruling party described the claim as unfounded, insisting that the Service-Wide Vote is a long-established budgetary mechanism for meeting government-wide obligations and unforeseen expenditures, not a political slush fund as alleged by the former Vice President.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC said Atiku’s allegation was either “highly mischievous” or a demonstration of “disturbing ignorance” of the basic principles of public finance, arguing that he failed to provide any evidence to support the accusation.

According to the party, the former Vice President’s claim was based purely on conjecture and designed to mislead Nigerians while diverting attention from what it described as the “visible and steady progress” being recorded under President Tinubu’s administration.

The APC maintained that the Service-Wide Vote is a globally recognised fiscal instrument used to cater for government-wide obligations and unforeseen expenditures after the passage of annual budgets, stressing that similar contingency arrangements exist in many democracies across the world.

It said it was surprising that a former Vice President and serial presidential contender would question what it described as an elementary public finance mechanism, insisting that the Service-Wide Vote is neither a secret fund nor an illegal account for financing political campaigns.

The ruling party also took a swipe at Atiku’s record in public office, claiming he was being “haunted by the ghost of his sordid past” and accusing him of attempting to project onto the Tinubu administration the alleged failings associated with his own years in government.

It further alleged that Atiku had repeatedly sought the presidency without presenting a clear development agenda for Nigeria, accusing him instead of promoting misinformation and “doomsday narratives” to discredit the Federal Government.

The APC argued that President Tinubu’s administration has continued to demonstrate fiscal responsibility through programmes 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.

Reaffirming its commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, the party said the Tinubu administration remains focused on rebuilding the economy, deepening institutional reforms, expanding infrastructure and improving the living conditions of Nigerians, despite criticisms from the opposition.