Atiku claims APC and its governors are misusing public funds for 2027 campaigns

• It’s criminal and cruel, says ADC

• ActionAid wants culpable governors impeached

• Ex-vice president sad over death of former Jigawa lawmaker in bandits’ den

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has charged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governors are diverting public funds to finance campaigns for the party’s primary elections and the 2027 general election.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) described the alleged diversion as shameless, cruel and criminal, noting that millions of Nigerians are sinking deeper into poverty, hunger and hopelessness as a result of the ruling party’s policies.

Human‑rights and anti‑poverty group ActionAid Nigeria called for the impeachment of any governor found guilty of using state resources to fund political campaigns ahead of the elections.

Recent reports have alleged financial disputes within the APC governors’ forum over the handling of Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds and alleged political spending ahead of the 2027 polls.

The forum denied any internal crisis, and no anti‑corruption agency has announced a formal investigation into the allegations.

Nevertheless, Atiku, speaking through his media aide Paul Ibe, accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of colluding with state governors to divert public resources into accounts allegedly earmarked for the president’s 2027 re‑election campaign.

In a statement posted yesterday, Atiku alleged that money intended for governance and public welfare was being redirected into “dedicated accounts” for political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the practice was worsening economic hardship, insecurity and poverty across the country, and that ordinary citizens were bearing the consequences of mismanaged national resources.

According to him, the alleged diversion of funds explains both the deepening economic crisis and the growing tensions among APC governors.

Atiku said, “The Tinubu‑led APC administration is in cahoots with APC governors to divert your resources to dedicated accounts for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign.”

He added that disagreements within the Progressive Governors’ Forum were linked to disputes over access to and management of the alleged diverted funds.

Atiku warned that citizens would ultimately be responsible if they “reward” the ruling party with another term despite the current economic realities.

ADC: Diverting FAAC is Criminal, Cruel

ADC reacted to reports that APC governors had diverted FAAC funds to finance Tinubu’s re‑election campaign.

The party called the action shameless, cruel and criminal, especially as millions of Nigerians are sinking deeper into poverty, hunger and hopelessness because of the ruling party’s policies.

ADC said the report alleging that over N800 billion was raised through deductions from FAAC allocations for political purposes confirmed what Nigerians had long suspected: while the administration urged people to endure the pains of its economic reforms, the APC was converting public resources into a war chest for 2027 politics.

In a statement by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC said it was morally indefensible that state governments receiving record‑breaking allocations were unable to improve citizens’ lives, yet could divert money to fund the president’s re‑election ambitions.

According to the ADC spokesman, “Under this APC government, states are receiving more money than at any other period in Nigeria’s history, yet Nigerians are poorer, hungrier, and more desperate than ever before.”

“Roads are still collapsing. Hospitals are still empty. Schools are still underfunded. Workers are underpaid. Communities remain unsafe. The only thing growing is the political appetite of the ruling party.

“If the allegations published by THEWILL are true, then what has occurred is not just political corruption, but a direct theft of resources belonging to the Nigerian people.

“FAAC allocations are meant for development, salaries, healthcare, education, infrastructure, security, and the welfare of citizens, not for financing the re‑election plans of one man. To divert public allocations into political accounts while citizens cannot afford food is wickedness on an industrial scale.”

The statement said, “These revelations explain why many APC governors appear more interested in political calculations than governance, despite unprecedented inflows into state coffers following subsidy removal and currency devaluation policies that have inflicted severe hardship on Nigerians.

“The same government that told Nigerians there is no money to reduce suffering somehow found a way to allegedly mobilise over N800 billion for politics.

“The same government asking citizens to endure sacrifice is allegedly supervising one of the largest political funding operations in Nigeria’s democratic history. This is not leadership. This is exploitation.

“The APC government has effectively turned governance into a fundraising machine for 2027 while Nigerians battle inflation, unemployment, insecurity, collapsing purchasing power, and rising poverty.”

ADC called for an immediate independent investigation into the allegations, including the reported use of FAAC deductions and any related accounts or structures allegedly linked to the operation.

The party said Nigerians deserved to know whether money belonging to states and local governments was diverted for partisan political purposes.

Abdullahi stated, “If these allegations are true, then this represents a dangerous abuse of public trust and a scandal of enormous national consequence. No amount of political spending can save a government that has lost the confidence of the people.

“You cannot impoverish the people to fund your own re‑election. Nigerians are not blind. Nigerians are not fools. And Nigerians will remember.”

ActionAid: Affected Governors Must Be Ousted

Human‑rights and anti‑poverty organisation ActionAid Nigeria called for the immediate impeachment of any governor found guilty of using state resources to fund political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general election.

The demand was made in a statement in Abuja by Country Director Andrew Mamedu, following growing public concerns over alleged movement of huge sums of money by some political actors for campaign‑related activities.

ActionAid Nigeria said the allegations raised serious questions about the source of the funds allegedly being deployed for political mobilisation and consolidation of power ahead of the next election cycle.

Mamedu described the reports as disturbing and unacceptable, especially at a time when millions of Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship, rising inflation, insecurity, unemployment and worsening living conditions.

He warned that it would amount to a grave abuse of public trust if state resources meant for governance and development were diverted for partisan political purposes.

Mamedu stated, “It is appalling that at a time when Nigeria is drowning in debt, workers are struggling