-
APC Campaign Council challenges Timi Frank to produce evidence of his allegation that the Federal Government is plotting to assassinate ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
-
Council dismisses the claim that Atiku’s security was withdrawn, insisting the former Vice President remains protected by the police and DSS.
-
APC says Tinubu ordered increased protection for presidential, vice-presidential, governorship and deputy governorship candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
-
Timi Frank had sought international intervention, urging US President Donald Trump and other global bodies to investigate alleged threats to Atiku’s safety and political freedom.
October 20, (THEWILL) – The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has challenged African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Timi Frank, to prove his allegation that the Nigerian Government is plotting to assassinate former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The campaign council also dismissed claims that Atiku’s security personnel had been withdrawn, insisting that the former Vice President remains protected by the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The council said, contrary to Frank’s allegation, President Bola Tinubu had directed security agencies to strengthen protection for presidential, vice-presidential, governorship and deputy governorship candidates across the country ahead of the 2027 elections.
The latest development followed an open letter by Frank in which he urged United States President Donald Trump and international organisations to press the Nigerian Government to provide assurances over the safety of opposition leaders, particularly Atiku.
Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC who is now a member of the ADC, raised concerns over alleged plans to intimidate, arrest or detain Atiku and alleged that state institutions could potentially be deployed against opposition figures.
He also expressed concern that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) could be used to initiate proceedings against Atiku in circumstances that could lead to his arrest and prolonged detention during the election campaign.
Frank called for an independent investigation into the allegations and appealed to the United States, United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, European Union and United Kingdom to engage the Federal Government over the matter.
‘Frank Must Prove Allegation’
Reacting in a statement issued on Tuesday, the spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Alake, described the assassination allegation as grave and urged security agencies to invite Frank to substantiate it.
“Our attention has been drawn to the statement by Timi Frank, a member of the African Democratic Congress, alleging that the Nigerian Government is plotting to assassinate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the ADC. This is a grave allegation that Mr Frank must prove,” Alake said.
He urged Frank to provide any information in his possession that could assist an investigation, stressing that any credible threat to life should be treated seriously irrespective of political affiliation.
“We thus urge security agencies to invite him 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,” he said.
The APC campaign council categorically rejected the allegation that the Presidency or its campaign structure was involved in any plan to assassinate Atiku or any other opposition figure.
“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,” Alake said.
Tinubu Increased Atiku’s Security, Says APC
The campaign council also rejected the claim that Atiku’s security detail had been withdrawn.
Alake said the former Vice President was “well protected” by the police and DSS, describing reports of the withdrawal of his security personnel as false.
“The narrative that the security personnel attached to former Vice President Atiku have been withdrawn is totally false. The former Vice President is well protected by the police and the Department of State Security,” he said.
According to the council, Tinubu recently directed security agencies to reinforce and increase protection for all presidential, vice-presidential, governorship and deputy governorship candidates across the country.
“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,” Alake said.
He further maintained that Atiku’s security arrangements had never been compromised.
“The security around the ADC Presidential candidate has never been compromised. 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.
READ ALSO:
APC Accuses Frank of Heating Up Polity
The campaign council accused Frank of making provocative allegations capable of unnecessarily heating the political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 elections.
Alake described Frank’s claim as “typical opposition rabble-rousing” and accused some opposition figures of using open letters and social media posts directed at foreign leaders and international organisations to attract attention.
“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.
The council warned that such allegations could become more frequent as political activities intensify ahead of the elections.
“As we go deeper into the campaign season, politicians and supporters will continue to make outlandish statements and frivolous allegations to gain political advantage,” Alake said.
He, however, urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to exercise restraint and ensure that public statements were factual and responsible.
The APC council called for peaceful and issue-based political competition, warning against allegations capable of triggering avoidable 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,” Alake said.
Tinubu’s Opposition Record
The campaign council also defended Tinubu’s democratic credentials, citing his years in opposition before the APC defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 presidential election.
According to Alake, Tinubu understood the importance of opposition politics because he had spent years building and leading opposition forces before the APC took power at the federal level.
“President Bola Tinubu, as a statesman and an avowed democrat, recognises opposition politics as an essential part of our 27-year-old democracy. 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,” he said.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
