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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.

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United States President Donald Trump has written to President Bola Tinubu, expressing appreciation for what he described as the Nigerian leader’s “decisive leadership” and efforts to tackle security challenges in the country.

The commendation was contained in a letter dated July 6, 2026, released on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The US President particularly commended Tinubu for his resolve to address violence targeting Christian communities.

In the letter, Trump said he was honoured to stand with Tinubu in the fight against terrorism and efforts to make Nigeria “stronger and more prosperous”.

Trump’s letter read:

Dear Mr President,

Thank you for your thoughtful letter. Your kind words mean a great deal to me, and I appreciate your decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people. I applaud your resolve to tackle the issues plaguing your nation, especially the violence affecting Christian communities and it is a true honor to stand with you in the fight against terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous.

The United States-Nigeria relationship is crucial at a time where conflict has spread across West Africa and around the world. We both share a mutual goal of confronting terrorism in all its forms, and our historic US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap has established a robust framework to accomplish this feat.

I am proud to have deployed the United States Special Operations Forces—among the most elite military units anywhere in the world—to equip the brave men and women in the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the skills, tools and intelligence they need to protect your homeland and ensure the safety and security of citizens, particularly those of faith who have been under attack. I look forward to our continued discussions over the course of my Presidency.

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Renowned Ifa priest, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, on Thursday, hosted the maiden anniversary of Progressive Witches and Wizards Association at Araba castle in Osogbo, Osun state.

During the meeting, Elebuibon charged members of the group to seek knowledge about themselves and use their natural powers to improve their individual fortune and help the country.

He also warned Nigerians, especially traditionalists not to engage in the killing of fellow men to avoid imminent punishment.

Speaking further, Chief Ifayemi urged leaders and security agencies in the country to work towards putting an end to the shedding of blood.

Elebuibon said, “Eledumare is displeased with the shedding of the blood of innocent Nigerians for there is grave punishment for that. It is happening in the north and down south.

“Political leaders and heads of security agencies in Nigeria must work to put an end to this. If they fail to do that, the consequences will be too heavy for this country.” He added.

In his remarks, the coordinator of the group, Oyelola Elebuibon, opined that people have an erroneous idea of what witchcraft means, saying members of the group are “good husbands, wives, and mothers, that would always work for the progress of their families and well-wishers”.