Atiku, APC Clash Over N12.8tn Budget Allocation

The controversy surrounding the N12.8tn Service-Wide Vote in the 2026 Appropriation Act intensified as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the media office of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar engaged in a war of words. Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, criticized the allocation, urging the National Assembly to investigate it thoroughly, particularly the N2.19tn personnel provision.

His Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, Phrank Shaibu, called for full disclosure on how the funds would be utilized, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in government spending. In response, APC's National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, dismissed Atiku's claims as unfounded and misleading, arguing that he lacked understanding of public finance principles.

The APC defended the Service-Wide Vote as a legitimate budgetary mechanism for unforeseen expenditures, countering Atiku's allegations of it being a secret fund. The exchange reflects ongoing political tensions and differing views on fiscal management in Nigeria.