The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has challenged African Democratic Congress (ADC) member Timi Frank to substantiate his allegation that the Federal Government is plotting to assassinate former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Frank, a former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, on Monday called on United States President Donald Trump and the international community to intervene diplomatically over alleged threats to Atiku’s life and political freedom ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In an open letter to Trump and other international leaders, Frank expressed concern over reports of alleged plans to arrest, detain or otherwise undermine Atiku’s participation in the forthcoming electoral process.
He urged the United States, the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union and the United Kingdom to engage the Nigerian government and seek credible assurances regarding the safety of opposition leaders.
Reacting in a statement on Tuesday, APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson Dele Alake described the allegation as grave and urged security agencies to invite Frank to provide evidence to support his claim.
“We thus urge security agencies to invite him (Frank) to substantiate the allegation, given its gravity and the urgent need to preserve life. 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,” Alake said.
He categorically denied that President Bola Tinubu, the Presidency or the APC campaign council was involved in any plan to assassinate Atiku or any opposition figure. <Cite refs={[“turn979747search0″,”turn979747search2”]}/>
Alake also dismissed as “totally false” claims that security personnel attached to Atiku had been withdrawn, insisting that the former vice-president remained protected by the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).
“The former Vice President is well protected by the police and the Department of State Security. 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,” he said.
Alake added that Atiku’s security arrangements had not been compromised and that the former vice-president enjoyed two levels of state-funded protection. He said Tinubu had directed security agencies to strengthen protection for political candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
The campaign council spokesperson, who is also the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, described Tinubu as a statesman and committed democrat who recognised opposition politics as an essential component of Nigeria’s democratic system.
He recalled that Tinubu spent 16 years in opposition and played a prominent role in the coalition that defeated the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 general election.
Alake accused Frank of making provocative allegations to attract attention and heighten political tension ahead of the elections.
“Mr Frank’s claim is typical opposition rabble-rousing meant to heat the polity. Many opposition figures, including Timi Frank, have made it a habit to write open letters and tag foreign leaders and international organisations in social media posts to draw undeserved attention to themselves,” he said.
He warned that political parties and their supporters could make increasingly provocative statements as the campaign season progressed, urging them to avoid claims capable of creating unnecessary tension.
“However, we urge candidates, political parties, and supporters to be factual and responsible in public statements and avoid utterances that can trigger avoidable tension in the polity. Let our political competition be peaceful, lawful, and focused on the big issues that matter to Nigerians, not character assassination or wild, baseless allegations,” Alake added.
The allegation has prompted a public dispute between Frank and the APC campaign council over Atiku’s safety ahead of the 2027 elections. The council has denied any assassination plot and called for the allegation to be substantiated, while Frank has urged Nigerian and international authorities to address the concerns he raised.
