By Isaac Samuel
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has dismissed allegations of a plot by the Federal Government to assassinate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, challenging a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Timi Frank, to provide evidence to substantiate the claim.
The council also urged security agencies to invite Frank for questioning, describing the allegation as grave and requiring urgent investigation to protect lives and prevent political tension.
Spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Alake, in a statement on Tuesday said neither President Bola Tinubu nor the council was involved in any plot to assassinate Atiku or any opposition figure.
“Our attention has been drawn to the statement by Timi Frank, a member of the African Democratic Congress, alleging that the Nigerian Government is plotting to assassinate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the ADC.
“This is a grave allegation that Mr Frank must prove. We thus urge security agencies to invite him to substantiate the allegation, given its gravity and the urgent need to preserve life,” Alake said.
The council urged Frank to provide any information in his possession to facilitate a prompt investigation, stressing that credible threats to life must be taken seriously, irrespective of political affiliation.
It also dismissed claims that security personnel attached to Atiku had been withdrawn, insisting that the former vice president remained protected by the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to the council, Tinubu recently directed security agencies to reinforce protection for presidential, vice-presidential, governorship and deputy governorship candidates across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The security around the ADC Presidential candidate has never been compromised. As a former Vice President of Nigeria, he enjoys two levels of state-funded security protection,” the statement added.
Alake further said Tinubu had increased security protection for Atiku in his capacity as a presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.
Defending the President’s democratic credentials, the council recalled Tinubu’s role in opposition politics before the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 presidential election.
It said Tinubu recognised opposition politics as an essential component of Nigeria’s 27-year-old democracy, noting that he had spent 16 years as a leading opposition figure.
The council, however, accused Frank and other opposition figures of making inflammatory allegations and using open letters and social media posts directed at foreign leaders and international organisations to attract attention.
It warned that political actors might make unsubstantiated claims for electoral advantage as preparations for the 2027 general elections gathered momentum.
The council urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to exercise restraint in their public statements and focus on issues affecting Nigerians rather than allegations capable of heightening political tension.
“Let our political competition be peaceful, lawful, and focused on the big issues that matter to Nigerians, not character assassination or wild, baseless allegations,” the statement said.
