APC Campaign Council Rejects Claims Of Assassination Plot Against Atiku Abubakar
The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC) has dismissed allegations that former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, is the target of an assassination plot.
In a statement issued by the Minister for Solid Minerals and APC PCC Spokesperson, Dele Alake, the council reacted to the claims made by Timi Frank, a prominent chieftain of the opposition ADC.
“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,” Alake said. “This is a grave allegation that Mr Frank must prove. We urge security agencies to invite him to substantiate these claims, given their severity and the urgent need to preserve life. We also urge Mr Frank to promptly provide any information in his possession to facilitate an immediate investigation. Any credible threat to life must be treated seriously, irrespective of political affiliation.”
Describing Frank’s narrative as “absolute falsehood,” the APC PCC firmly denied claims that the former Vice President’s security details had been compromised or withdrawn.
“We categorically reject the claim that the Nigerian Presidency or the APC Campaign Council is involved in any plot to assassinate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any other opposition figure,” the council stated. “The narrative that the security personnel attached to former Vice President Atiku have been withdrawn is totally false. He remains well-protected by the Nigerian Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).”
The statement further revealed that President Bola Tinubu recently ordered security agencies to reinforce and increase protection for all presidential, vice-presidential, governorship, and deputy governorship candidates across the nation.
Highlighting President Tinubu’s own history as an opposition leader during the 16-year rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alake noted that the President deeply respects democratic dissent.
“President Bola Tinubu, as a statesman and an avowed democrat, recognises opposition politics as an essential component of our 27-year-old democracy. For 16 years, President Tinubu was the face of the opposition in Nigeria, successfully galvanising the movement to defeat the PDP as a governing party in 2015,” Alake remarked.
The spokesperson characterized Frank’s allegations as a deliberate attempt to cause unnecessary political tension.
“Mr Frank’s claim is typical opposition rabble-rousing meant to heat up 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 simply to draw undeserved attention to themselves,” Alake noted.
The APC PCC concluded by urging political parties, candidates, and their supporters to remain factual and responsible in their public utterances to avoid triggering avoidable unrest across the country.
