…Challenges Timi Frank to provide evidence, says President ordered increased security for opposition candidates
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has dismissed allegations of a plot by the Federal Government to assassinate former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The council described the allegation as baseless and challenged its originator, Timi Frank, to provide credible evidence to security agencies rather than make claims capable of heightening political tension.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Dele Alake, said the accusation was too serious to be treated as ordinary political rhetoric.
Frank, a member of the ADC, had alleged that government operatives were plotting against Atiku’s life as political activities intensified ahead of the presidential election.
Reacting, Alake denied any involvement by President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government or the ruling party in such a plot, insisting that the administration remained committed to protecting political opponents.
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“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 stated.
“We also urge Mr Frank not to hesitate to provide any information in his possession that will enable prompt investigation. Any credible threat to life must be treated seriously, irrespective of political affiliation.”
The campaign council also rejected allegations that security personnel attached to the former Vice-President had been withdrawn.
Alake maintained that Atiku continued to enjoy protection from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), both in his capacity as a former Vice-President and as a presidential candidate.
“The narrative that the security personnel attached to former Vice-President Atiku have been withdrawn is totally false,” he declared.
According to him, Tinubu had recently directed security agencies to strengthen protection for presidential, vice-presidential, governorship and deputy governorship candidates across political parties.
“Contrary to the falsehood promoted by Timi Frank, President Tinubu recently directed security agencies to reinforce and increase protection for all presidential, vice-presidential, governorship, and deputy governorship candidates across the country,” the statement read.
Alake further claimed that the President had specifically increased the security protection available to Atiku ahead of the elections.
“As a former Vice-President of Nigeria, he enjoys two levels of state-funded security protection. President Tinubu has increased security protection for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as a presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he said.
The APC campaign spokesperson maintained that the President recognised the constitutional role of opposition parties and would not undermine the democratic process through intimidation or violence.
He recalled Tinubu’s years in opposition politics before the formation of the APC and the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 presidential election.
“President Bola Tinubu, as a statesman and an avowed democrat, recognises opposition politics as an essential part of our 27-year-old democracy,” Alake stated.
“For 16 years in Nigeria, President Tinubu was the face of opposition, and he galvanised the opposition movement to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party as a governing party in Nigeria in 2015.”
Alake accused some opposition figures of making unsubstantiated allegations to attract public attention and gain political advantage as the election approached.
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He warned that inflammatory statements could create unnecessary anxiety and worsen political tensions during the campaign period.
“As we go deeper into the campaign season, politicians and supporters will continue to make outlandish statements and frivolous allegations to gain political advantage,” he said.
The campaign council urged political actors to exercise restraint and ensure that allegations involving threats to life were supported by verifiable information and referred to the appropriate security authorities.
It maintained that any genuine threat against a political candidate, regardless of party affiliation, deserved prompt investigation.
The allegations by Frank and the APC’s account of Atiku’s security arrangements have not been independently verified.
