APC Campaign Council Rejects Alleged Plot to Assassinate Atiku, Challenges Accuser

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) has dismissed allegations that the Federal Government is plotting to assassinate former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, describing the claims as unsubstantiated political rhetoric.

The council’s spokesperson and Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, made the position known in a statement on Tuesday, challenging Timi Frank, a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to provide evidence supporting his allegation.

Frank had written an open letter to United States President Donald Trump and other international leaders on Monday, expressing concern over alleged plans to intimidate, arrest, detain or frustrate Atiku’s participation in the forthcoming electoral process. He also raised concerns about possible threats to the former vice-president’s life.

Atiku is the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Reacting, the APC-PCC described the allegation as serious and urged security agencies to invite Frank for questioning so he could provide any information in his possession.

The council stressed that credible threats to life must be investigated regardless of political affiliation, while rejecting any suggestion that President Bola Tinubu or the ruling party’s campaign organisation was involved in a plan to harm Atiku or any opposition figure.

It also denied claims that Atiku’s security personnel had been withdrawn, stating that the former vice-president remained protected by the police and the Department of State Services.

According to the council, 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 campaign council further said Atiku continued to benefit from two levels of state-funded security protection because of his status as a former vice-president.

Defending Tinubu’s record on opposition politics, the council recalled his role in building an opposition movement that defeated the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 general elections.

It argued that the President recognised opposition politics as an essential part of Nigeria’s democratic system and rejected suggestions that his administration would seek to undermine political rivals.

The council accused Frank of using the allegation to attract attention and intensify political tensions, adding that open letters to foreign leaders and international organisations had become a recurring feature of some opposition figures’ public engagements.

It warned that as political activities increased ahead of the 2027 elections, parties and their supporters should avoid making unsubstantiated allegations capable of heightening tensions.

The APC-PCC urged political actors to keep campaigns peaceful and focus on issues affecting Nigerians rather than personal attacks and claims that could not be substantiated.