By Tracy Moses
The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) has denied allegations of a plot by the Federal Government to assassinate former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, challenging former APC chieftain Timi Frank to provide evidence to support his claims.
The council described the allegation as grave, urging security agencies to invite Frank to substantiate it and investigate any credible threat to Atiku’s life, irrespective of political affiliation.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, categorically denied any involvement by President Bola Tinubu or the APC-PCC in an alleged plot against Atiku or any other opposition figure.
The controversy followed Frank’s appeal to United States President Donald Trump and other international leaders to intervene over what he described as threats to Atiku’s safety and political freedom ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In an open letter dated October 19, Frank called for international engagement with the Nigerian government and an independent investigation into his concerns.
The APC-PCC also dismissed claims that security personnel attached to Atiku had been withdrawn, insisting that the former vice-president remained protected by the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).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 had directed security agencies to strengthen protection for presidential and vice-presidential candidates, as well as governorship and deputy governorship candidates, ahead of the 2027 elections.
It further claimed that Atiku, as a former vice-president and presidential candidate, enjoyed two levels of state-funded security protection, maintaining that his security arrangements had been reinforced rather than compromised.
The council described Frank’s allegation as unfounded, warning that claims of an assassination plot could heighten political tension as activities gather momentum ahead of the elections.
Defending Tinubu’s democratic credentials, the APC-PCC cited his role in building the opposition coalition that defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.
It recalled that Tinubu spent years in opposition and played a prominent role in mobilising political forces against the PDP, which governed Nigeria at the federal level from 1999 until its defeat in 2015.
The council argued that the President’s political history demonstrated his appreciation of the role opposition parties play in a democratic system.
It, however, accused Frank of making inflammatory allegations capable of heating up the polity and suggested that the claims could be intended to attract public attention.
The statement also criticised what the council described as a practice by opposition figures of writing open letters and tagging foreign leaders and international organisations on social media to draw attention to domestic political disputes.
As political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, the APC-PCC urged candidates, political parties and their supporters to exercise restraint and ensure that public statements were factual and responsible.
It called on political actors to focus on issues affecting Nigerians rather than engage in what it described as character assassination and baseless allegations.
The council maintained that political competition should remain peaceful and lawful, stressing that any genuine threat to a political figure’s life should be reported to the appropriate authorities for investigation.
It nevertheless insisted that allegations as serious as an assassination plot must be supported by credible evidence.