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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed claims by ex-Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, that the 2026 Service-Wide Vote (SWV) was set aside to fund President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, saying the ghost of his sordid past haunting him.

This was disclosed in a statement by APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka where described Atiku’s allegation as a sign of disturbing ignorance of basic public finance principles and calculated mischief.

Atiku had accused the Tinubu administration of using the Service-Wide Vote as an illegal slush fund for the 2027 election.

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

In his response ,Morka said Atiku failed to provide any evidence to support the allegation.

He explained that “A Service-Wide Vote is a long-established and widely used budgetary mechanism designed to cater for government-wide obligations and unforeseen expenditures that arise after the annual budget has been passed.”

“It is not a secret fund or an illegal slush account, as Atiku has baselessly and recklessly alleged.”

The APC said the SWV is a normal budgeting practice used in many countries and argued that Atiku, as an experienced politician, should understand how it works.

The ruling party also accused the former vice president of trying to tarnish the image of the Tinubu administration.

The ghost of his sordid past haunts Atiku,” the statement said, adding that he was attempting to attack an administration it described as successful.

The APC pointed to several government programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the new national minimum wage, the Consumer Credit Scheme and the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, as examples of the administration’s achievements.

The party maintained that Nigerians can distinguish between political accusations and the government’s performance, insisting that President Tinubu remains focused on economic reforms, tax relief for low-income earners and stabilising the economy ahead of the 2027 elections.

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Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has thrown his weight behind, Rep Kingsley Chinda, Rainbow Coalition, a political movement that comprises members of different political parties in Rivers State, led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Fubara made this declaration during the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction and equipping of Riven Medical Facility, a public-private sector-driven pharmaceutical factory in the state.

He affirmed President Bola Tinubu as his preferred presidential candidate, and Kingsley Chinda as the preferred governorship candidate, urging his supporters to back all candidates on the coalition’s platform in the 2027 elections.

Governor Fubara said the period of political conflict in the state was over, stressing that peace and unity are now paramount to the state’s development.

“I am supporting our Rainbow Coalition. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is our President, and he is the one we are supporting.

The governorship candidate is the candidate I am supporting, and anybody who believes in me will support every candidate under the Rainbow Coalition,” the governor declared.

He dismissed calls by some political actors to delay aligning with the coalition, insisting that he had already made his decision.

“I am already in the family. I have returned to our family. Give your total support to the coalition. The time of war is over; it is now time for peace, and that peace will take us to another level,” he said.

The governor warned against actions capable of creating divisions in the state, maintaining that he would not be associated with any agenda that threatened the prevailing peace.

“I am not party to anything that will bring any form of disunity in this state. We have done what we need to do, and now we are moving forward,” he added.

On the investment project, Fubara assured residents that the state government is fully committed to the successful completion of the medical consumables factory, explaining that he accepted to support the project only after receiving assurances from the investors and government officials about its viability and delivery timeline.

According to him, the first phase of the project is expected to be completed within three months, describing it as a strategic investment that would boost industrialisation, create jobs and position Rivers State as a production hub for medical consumables.

He said the project would stimulate economic activities through manufacturing, attract local and international patronage, and encourage the establishment of supporting industries around the facility.

The governor also pledged the government’s full backing for the investors, while urging the host community to cooperate with the company to ensure the project’s success.

He noted that the state government is determined to avoid contractual disputes that could discourage investors, revealing that Rivers State is already involved in litigation with several companies amounting to over ₦200 billion.

Governor Fubara assured the investors that the government would continue to monitor the project and expressed optimism that the first phase would be officially unveiled within the next three months.

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…. Critical Stakeholders Seek Tinubu, National Chairman’s Interventions

New details have emerged over a looming political development within the Niger State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as influential stakeholders, including former commissioners, ex-political appointees, serving lawmakers and grassroots leaders, are reportedly perfecting plans for a mass defection from the ruling party.

Sources familiar with the development disclosed that consultations have intensified in recent weeks amid growing dissatisfaction over alleged exclusion, political marginalisation and the conduct of internal party affairs.

The development is already generating anxiety within political circles in the state, with observers warning that any large-scale defection could trigger one of the biggest political realignments in Niger State since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

Investigations revealed that the aggrieved camp comprises former commissioners who served under Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, former appointees of ex-Governor and Senator representing Niger North, Abubakar Sani Bello, members of the State House of Assembly and several party leaders who are said to be unhappy with recent political developments within the APC.

A key member of the coalition from the Suleja Emirate, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, disclosed that the group had resolved to await the release of the APC’s authentic list of candidates before making its next political move.

According to the source, the planned action is intended to challenge what he described as the growing concentration of political power in the hands of a few individuals.

“This movement will shake the foundation of the APC in Niger State. Politics belongs to the people and not to one individual.

Many loyal party members who laboured for the party’s success now feel alienated and ignored,” the source stated.

He further disclosed that consultations were ongoing with influential political actors, community leaders and grassroots structures across the 25 local government areas of the state.

“We are building a formidable coalition that cuts across all political interests. Once our position is made public, many people will understand that the current situation within the party is unsustainable,” he added.

Political analysts believe the emerging crisis may not be unconnected with the battle for political supremacy ahead of the 2027 general elections, as various interest groups seek to reposition themselves ahead of the next electoral cycle.

The APC has maintained a dominant political presence in Niger State for over a decade, producing governors, lawmakers and key political office holders. However, recent developments suggest that internal disagreements and unresolved grievances may be gradually eroding the party’s unity.

Observers note that the alleged discontent among party stakeholders could have far-reaching implications, particularly if prominent political figures with established structures decide to align with opposition parties or form a new political bloc.

“There is no political party that can afford to ignore its grassroots leaders and longstanding loyalists,” a political analyst in Minna, revealed.

“If these aggrieved stakeholders eventually leave the APC, it could significantly alter the political equation in Niger State and make the 2027 elections more competitive than previously anticipated”, the Analyst added.

On his part, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, former senior Aide to ex Governor Bello, called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman of APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, to urgently intervene, to save the soul of the party in Niger.

“As it stands now, if the President or the National Chairman do not quickly intervene, I doubt if there would be anything left in Niger APC after 2027. This was the same party we laboured to build, it is unfortunately disintegrating under our watch, just for the selfishness of a microscopic few”, Idris added.

Former Chairman of Lapai Local Government Area who pleaded anonymity, confirmed to our Correspondent that stakeholders in the area have concluded arrangements to kiss the APC goodbye, why entertaining the fear that those who would be left in APC would certainly engage in anti party activities during the 2027 elections.

Although it remains unclear which political platform the aggrieved politicians may eventually adopt, sources hinted that preliminary discussions have already commenced with leaders of other political parties and emerging political movements.

Efforts to obtain official reactions from the Niger State APC leadership were unsuccessful as calls and messages sent to some key officials were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, the unfolding developments in Niger State may signal the beginning of an intense struggle for control of the state’s political structure, with potential consequences for the APC’s continued dominance in one of its traditional strongholds in the North-Central region.