The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has dismissed as false and dangerous allegations that the Federal Government is plotting to assassinate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
The campaign council was reacting to a statement credited to Timi Frank, a chieftain of the ADC, who alleged that there was a plan by the Nigerian government to eliminate Atiku ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a press statement issued on Monday, October 20, 2026, and signed by its Spokesperson, Dele Alake, the APC Presidential Campaign Council categorically rejected the claim, describing it as a grave allegation that must be proven.
The council called on security agencies to immediately invite Timi Frank to substantiate his allegation, given its gravity and the need to preserve life.
“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,” the statement read.
“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.”
The APC council further debunked claims that security personnel attached to the former Vice President had been withdrawn, describing the narrative as totally false.
According to the statement, Atiku Abubakar remains well protected by the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Security, DSS, as a former Vice President of Nigeria who enjoys two levels of state-funded security protection.
Contrary to Timi Frank’s claim, the council revealed that President Bola Tinubu recently directed security agencies to reinforce and increase protection for all presidential, vice-presidential, governorship and deputy governorship candidates across the country in the build-up to the 2027 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,” Alake stated.
The campaign council described President Tinubu as a statesman and an avowed democrat who recognises opposition politics as an essential part of Nigeria’s 27-year-old democracy, recalling that Tinubu himself was the face of opposition for 16 years and galvanised the movement that defeated the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015.
It accused Timi Frank of engaging in typical opposition rabble-rousing meant to heat up the polity and draw undeserved attention by tagging foreign leaders and international organisations on social media.
“As we go deeper into the campaign season, politicians and supporters will continue to make outlandish statements and frivolous allegations to gain political advantage. We urge candidates, political parties, and supporters to be factual and responsible in public statements and avoid utterances that can trigger avoidable tension,” the statement added.
BACKGROUND:
Timi Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC who is now in the ADC, had in a statement at the weekend raised alarm over alleged threats to the life of Atiku Abubakar and claimed his security aides had been withdrawn.
Atiku Abubakar, who was Vice President from 1999 to 2007, contested the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but recently defected to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, where he is now its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The 2027 presidential race is gradually gathering momentum, with Atiku, Peter Obi, and President Tinubu who is seeking re-election, emerging as frontline contenders
