No plot to assassinate Atiku - APC Campaign Council

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has denied allegations that the Nigerian government is plotting to assassinate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

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The council described the allegation by Timi Frank, an ADC member and former APC deputy national publicity secretary, as “grave” and challenged him to provide evidence to security agencies.

In a statement on Tuesday signed by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, the APC campaign council urged security agencies to invite Mr Frank to substantiate his claim, saying any credible threat to life should be treated seriously regardless of political affiliation.

“We categorically reject the claim that the presidency of Nigeria or the APC Campaign Council is involved in any plot to assassinate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any opposition figure,” Mr Alake said.

The statement also rejected claims that security personnel attached to Atiku had been withdrawn.

Mr Frank had, in an open letter dated 19 October, called on United States President Donald Trump and other international leaders to intervene over what he described as threats to Atiku’s life and political freedom ahead of the 2027 elections.

He alleged that the federal government could deploy state institutions to intimidate, arrest, detain or assassinate the ADC candidate and called for an independent investigation into the alleged threats.

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He also urged the United States, the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the European Union and the United Kingdom to engage the Nigerian government and demand assurances over the safety of Atiku and other opposition figures.

However, Mr Alake said the former vice president remains protected by the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service.

He said President Bola Tinubu had recently directed security agencies to reinforce and increase 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,” the statement said.

He further said Atiku, as a former vice president, enjoys two levels of state-funded security protection and that Mr Tinubu had increased his security detail ahead of the 2027 elections.

Mr Alake said Mr Tinubu recognised opposition politics as an essential component of Nigeria’s democracy, citing his own years in opposition before the APC defeated the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 presidential election.

The statement accused Mr Frank of making allegations aimed at heating up the political atmosphere ahead of the elections.

“Mr Frank’s claim is typical opposition rabble-rousing meant to heat the polity,” Mr Alake said.

He alleged that Mr Frank and other opposition figures had frequently written open letters and tagged foreign leaders and international organisations on social media in an attempt to attract attention.

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Mr Alake warned that as the 2027 campaign season intensifies, politicians and their supporters were likely to make provocative claims for political advantage.

He, however, urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to make factual and responsible statements and avoid comments capable of creating 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,” he said.