The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) has dismissed allegations that the Federal Government is plotting to assassinate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, challenging the African Democratic Congress chieftain, Timi Frank, to provide evidence to support his claims.
The council’s spokesperson and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, rejected the allegation in a statement issued on Tuesday, insisting that neither President Bola Tinubu nor the APC campaign council was involved in any plot against Atiku or any opposition figure.
Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC who is now a member of the ADC, had raised the alarm in an open letter addressed to United States President Donald Trump and other international leaders on Monday.
In the letter, he expressed concern over alleged plans to intimidate, arrest, detain or otherwise frustrate Atiku’s participation in the 2027 general elections. He also raised concerns about possible threats to the former vice president’s life.
Reacting, Alake described the allegation as serious and urged security agencies to invite Frank to substantiate his claims, stressing that any credible threat to life should be investigated regardless of political affiliation.
The council also dismissed claims that security personnel attached to Atiku had been withdrawn, maintaining that the former vice president remained protected by the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services.
According to Alake, Atiku, as a former vice president, enjoys two levels of state-funded security protection.
He added that Tinubu had directed security agencies to strengthen protection for presidential, vice-presidential, governorship and deputy governorship candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The security around the ADC presidential candidate has never been compromised,” Alake said.
The APC campaign council further defended Tinubu’s democratic credentials, citing his years in opposition before the APC defeated the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 presidential election.
Alake said the President recognised opposition politics as an essential component of democracy and rejected suggestions that the government intended to undermine opposition candidates.
Describing Frank’s allegations as “typical opposition rabble-rousing,” the council accused some opposition figures of making provocative claims and writing open letters to foreign leaders to attract attention.
It warned that as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections intensify, politicians and their supporters must avoid unsubstantiated allegations capable of heightening tensions in the country.
The council urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to make responsible public statements and focus their campaigns on issues affecting Nigerians rather than personal attacks.
Frank had called on the international community to engage the Nigerian government and seek assurances concerning the safety of Atiku and other opposition figures.
He maintained that his concerns were not intended to place Atiku above the law but to ensure that law enforcement agencies operated independently and without political interference.
The allegations have added to political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the APC campaign council insisting that Atiku’s security remains intact and challenging Frank to provide evidence of the alleged plot.