The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing to justify the massive N12.8 trillion Service-Wide Vote (SWV) in the 2026 Appropriation Act, calling the ruling party’s response evidence of a “guilty conscience.” This accusation was made in a statement released on Wednesday by Atiku’s Strategic Media Associate, Olusola Sanni, following comments by APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, who defended the allocation and dismissed Atiku’s concerns. The ADC’s media office criticized the APC for ignoring legitimate public questions about the sharp rise in the SWV, instead resorting to personal attacks and deflection.
The Service-Wide Vote, a budgetary provision used for unforeseen or emergency expenditures, has seen a dramatic increase from N638.34 billion in the 2024 budget to over N12.8 trillion in the 2026 Appropriation Act—an increase of approximately 1,918% in just two years. The Atiku camp questioned what emergency or unforeseen circumstances could justify such a massive rise, noting that Mr. Morka’s response failed to address this central issue. While acknowledging that the SWV is a recognized part of the budgetary process, the ADC emphasized that Nigerians are demanding greater transparency, accountability, and justification for such a large allocation.
The media office pointed out that the N12.8 trillion SWV now rivals the combined budgets of critical sectors like defence, education, healthcare, and works. It raised concerns that without clear details on how the funds will be used, the allocation risks becoming a slush fund susceptible to abuse. The statement highlighted that many items under the SWV are either vaguely described or not described at all, undermining accountability and public trust. “A contingency fund without specificity, accountability or transparency ceases to be a contingency provision and becomes precisely what Nigerians fear — a slush fund waiting to be abused,” the statement warned.
The ADC also recalled past controversies under the Tinubu administration, including allegations of duplicated budget provisions and controversial religious project allocations, arguing that these precedents make current concerns about the SWV justified. Instead of addressing these issues, the media office claimed, the APC has chosen to deflect and insult rather than provide explanations. The ADC is now calling on the Federal Government to release a detailed breakdown of the N12.8 trillion, including specific projects, beneficiaries, implementing agencies, and the legal basis for each expenditure.
The Atiku camp insists that full disclosure is essential to reassure Nigerians that public funds are being managed responsibly and transparently. As the 2026 budget takes shape, scrutiny over the Service-Wide Vote is expected to intensify, with citizens and opposition groups demanding clarity on how such a vast sum will be used to serve national interests.
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