The Media Office of African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of failing to explain the reported N12.8 trillion Service-Wide Vote, SWV, contained in the 2026 Appropriation Act, describing the ruling party’s reaction as evidence of a “guilty conscience”.

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Atiku’s Strategic Media Associate, Olusola Sanni.

The statement was in response to comments by APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, who defended the Service-Wide Vote and dismissed Atiku’s criticism.

According to Atiku Media Office, the APC ignored what it described as legitimate concerns about the sharp increase in the Service-Wide Vote and instead resorted to personal attacks.

The Atiku Media Office questioned the justification for increasing the Service-Wide Vote from N638.34 billion in the 2024 budget to more than N12.8 trillion in the 2026 Appropriation Act, representing what it described as an increase of about 1,918 per cent within two years.

“It is remarkable that in his lengthy treatise, Mr. Morka failed to answer the central question: What emergency or unforeseen expenditure justifies increasing the Service-Wide Vote from ₦638.34 billion in 2024 to over ₦12.8 trillion in 2026?” the statement said.

While acknowledging that the Service-Wide Vote is a recognised budgetary provision, the Atiku camp argued that Nigerians are demanding explanations for what it described as the size, transparency and management of the allocation.

It maintained that if the allocation was justified, the Federal Government should explain why the provision had risen to an amount it claimed rivals the combined budgets of key sectors such as defence, education, healthcare and works.

The statement further alleged that several items captured under the allocation were either vaguely described or lacked sufficient details, raising concerns over accountability.

“Even more disturbing is the fact that substantial portions of this allocation are tied to projects that are either vaguely described or not described at all. 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 added.

The media office also accused the APC of avoiding what it described as fundamental questions by resorting to insults instead of addressing the issues raised.

It further claimed that the Tinubu administration had previously faced public scrutiny over alleged duplicated budget provisions, religious project allocations and other controversial appropriations, arguing that concerns over the Service-Wide Vote were therefore justified.

The Atiku camp consequently called on the Federal Government to publish a detailed breakdown of the N12.8 trillion Service-Wide Vote, including the projects, beneficiaries, implementing agencies and legal basis for each expenditure.

The Atiku Media Office maintained that full disclosure of the allocation remained necessary to assure Nigerians that public funds were being properly managed.

Former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has reacted to the agreement Rabi’u Kwankwaso is said to have had with Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

In a post on his verified X handle on Wednesday, Ahmad said Kwankwaso knows very well that 2027 will not be feasible for them.

Recall that Kwankwaso in an interview said he had a written agreement with Peter Obi for a single term of four years if they win the 2027 general elections.

“I read that Senator Kwankwaso said the agreement is for Mr Peter Obi to be on the ballot in 2027 and, regardless of the outcome, he will not contest in 2031 but instead support Kwankwaso’s presidential ambition.

“I like how Kwankwaso entered this political marriage with a clear long-term political strategy in mind, knowing that 2027 will not be feasible for them,” he wrote.

DAILY POST reports that Kwankwaso is the running mate of Peter Obi in  next year’s general elections.

The duo joined the NDC in May after dumping the African Democratic Congress, ADC, citing internal divisions and court cases.

The Osun State chapter of the Accord and the Osun State Police Command have made conflicting claims over the security situation in the state.

Also, both sides have defended their positions amid heightened political activities ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

In a statement signed by its state chairman, Pastor Victor Akande, on Wednesday, the Accord accused the police of failing to act impartially and alleged that some individuals linked to the All Progressives Congress, APC, had continued to engage in violent activities without facing prosecution.

The party alleged that recent security operations reflected selective law enforcement, claiming that transport union members who were not aligned with a particular faction had been subjected to arrests and harassment.

According to the statement, “The people of Osun deserve facts, not carefully manufactured stories designed to protect politically connected individuals. Individuals identified as Asiri Eniba, Ojuyobo and D-Law have continued to operate freely despite allegations of involvement in violent incidents.”

Accord claimed that incidents of violence, including reported gunfire at Ido-Osun and the takeover of motor parks, had not been thoroughly investigated, urging the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to order what it described as a comprehensive and impartial investigation into recent disturbances across the state.

The party also called for an end to what it described as arbitrary arrests of transport union members, insisting that law enforcement should be based solely on credible evidence and not political considerations.

Responding in a separate statement, the Osun State Police Command rejected all allegations of political bias, maintaining that it remained committed to professionalism, neutrality and the rule of law in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.

The command in a statement by the spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, stated that it had never provided protection for any political party, individual or group, stressing that its security operations were intelligence-driven and evidence-based rather than influenced by political statements or social media reports.

“The Nigeria Police Force is a non-partisan institution established by law to protect lives and property, preserve public order, and enforce the law without fear or favour,” the command said.

The police added that “several suspects connected with breaches of public peace had been arrested, investigated and charged to court where sufficient evidence existed, while investigations into other reported incidents were still ongoing.”

It also stated that some arrested suspects had confessed to plans to procure arms and ammunition to perpetrate further violence.

Gotan, reaffirmed that no individual was above the law and dismissed allegations of selective arrests, stating that political affiliation or union membership neither justified arrest nor guaranteed exemption from investigation.