The media team for Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress, has slammed the All Progressives Congress for failing to justify the massive N12.8 trillion Service-Wide Vote found in the 2026 Appropriation Act. Olusola Sanni, a spokesperson for Atiku, claimed the ruling party’s defensive posture reveals a guilty conscience.
This statement followed a defense provided by APC spokesperson Felix Morka, who dismissed the initial criticisms raised by Atiku’s camp. Atiku’s office argues that the government bypassed valid questions regarding the budget spike, opting instead to launch personal attacks against their critics. The primary issue concerns a jump from N638.34 billion in 2024 to N12.8 trillion in 2026, which marks a 1,918 percent increase.
The statement challenged Morka to explain the specific emergencies requiring such a vast sum, noting that the amount competes with total spending on national defense, education, and healthcare. Furthermore, the opposition team warned that the lack of clear project descriptions or accountability for this fund suggests it could be misused. Citing previous controversies surrounding the Tinubu administration’s budget, the team demanded a public, detailed breakdown of all beneficiaries and legal justifications for the expenditures to ensure fiscal transparency.
