The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has denied allegations of a plot to assassinate former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, challenging those making the claim to present any evidence in their possession to security agencies for investigation.
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Atiku is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2027 general election. The denial followed allegations raised by former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary Timi Frank concerning threats to Atiku’s life and political freedom ahead of the election.
Spokesman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Alake, said on Tuesday that neither President Bola Tinubu, the Presidency nor the ruling party was involved in any plan to harm Atiku or any other opposition figure.
The campaign council maintained that any credible threat to the life of a political figure should be treated seriously regardless of party affiliation, but said such allegations should be backed by evidence capable of being investigated by the appropriate authorities.
It consequently challenged Frank to submit whatever information he had concerning the alleged plot to law enforcement agencies rather than leave such a serious accusation in the realm of political claims.
The council “categorically” rejected the allegation that the Presidency or APC Campaign Council was involved in a plot against Atiku or any opposition politician.
The controversy followed an open letter by Frank to United States President Donald Trump and other international organisations in which he expressed concern over what he described as threats to Atiku’s safety and participation in the 2027 electoral process.
Frank had called for an independent investigation and international engagement with the Nigerian government, raising concerns about possible intimidation, arrest or detention of the former vice-president during the election period. His statement did not provide independently verified evidence establishing the existence of a specific assassination plot.
Responding, the APC campaign council also rejected claims that security personnel attached to Atiku had been withdrawn, insisting that the former vice-president remained under the protection of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service.
The council said President Tinubu had directed security agencies to strengthen protection for presidential and vice-presidential candidates as well as governorship and deputy governorship candidates as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
Alake described the assassination allegation as “typical opposition rabble-rousing,” accusing those behind it of attempting to heighten political tensions and attract international attention through social media.
The campaign council nevertheless stressed that questions concerning threats to life should not be treated lightly and urged anyone possessing credible information about such a threat to make it available to security agencies for proper investigation.
It also called for restraint in the increasingly charged political atmosphere, insisting that disagreements among presidential candidates and political parties should remain peaceful and focused on issues affecting Nigerians.
“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 council said.
The APC campaign organisation further urged candidates, political parties and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly as campaigns gather momentum, maintaining that political rivalry should not be allowed to undermine peaceful democratic competition.
The council referred to Tinubu’s history as an opposition politician while arguing that his administration would not support attacks on political opponents.
The latest exchange adds to the growing political dispute between the ruling APC and opposition figures ahead of the 2027 election, with Atiku and his allies increasingly raising concerns about the treatment and security of opposition politicians, while the APC has rejected the allegations and accused its opponents of making unsubstantiated claims.
Frank, in his earlier intervention, maintained that his appeal was not intended to place Atiku above the law or prevent legitimate investigations, but to ensure that state institutions were not used for political persecution.
“The concern is not that Atiku Abubakar should be placed above the law. The concern is that the law must never be placed at the service of political persecution,” Frank said.
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