APC Challenges Timi Frank to Prove Alleged Plot to Assassinate Atiku

The All Progressives Congress 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 and ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

 

The council also urged security agencies to invite Frank for questioning, insisting that any credible threat to life must be treated seriously, irrespective of political affiliation.

 

In a statement on Tuesday, the PCC spokesperson and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, dismissed the allegation, saying neither President Bola Tinubu nor the APC campaign council was involved in any plot to assassinate Atiku or any opposition figure.

 

Frank had, in an open letter to United States President Donald Trump and other international leaders on Monday, expressed concern over reports of alleged plans to intimidate, arrest, detain or otherwise frustrate Atiku’s participation in the forthcoming electoral process.

 

He also raised concerns over alleged threats to the former vice president’s life.

 

Reacting, the APC PCC described the allegation as grave and called on Frank to provide evidence to support his claims.

 

“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. 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 a prompt investigation. Any credible threat to life must be treated seriously, irrespective of political affiliation,” the statement said.

 

The council also dismissed claims that security personnel attached to Atiku had been withdrawn, insisting that the former vice president remained protected by the police and the Department of State Services.

 

It further claimed that Tinubu had directed security agencies to reinforce 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. 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,” the council said.

 

The APC PCC said Tinubu recognised opposition politics as an essential component of democracy, citing his role in mobilising opposition forces that defeated the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 general elections.

 

“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,” it added.

 

The council accused Frank and other opposition figures of making unsubstantiated allegations and writing open letters to foreign leaders to attract attention and gain political advantage.

 

It described the claims as attempts to heighten political tension as the campaign season approaches.

 

The APC PCC urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to make responsible public statements and keep their campaigns peaceful, focusing on issues affecting Nigerians rather than personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations.