The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has denied allegations that the Federal Government is plotting to assassinate former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, describing the claim as baseless.
The council challenged Timi Frank, a member of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, who made the allegation, to provide evidence and urged security agencies to invite him for questioning.
In a statement on Tuesday, Dele Alake, spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, said the allegation was grave and should be investigated if Mr Frank had credible information to support it.
“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 statement said.
The council categorically denied that President Bola Tinubu or the APC campaign council was involved in any plot to assassinate Mr Atiku or any opposition figure.
It also dismissed claims that security personnel attached to the former vice-president had been withdrawn, insisting that he remained protected by the police and the Department of State Services, DSS.
According to the statement, Mr Tinubu recently directed security agencies to reinforce protection for presidential, vice-presidential, governorship and deputy governorship candidates across the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The security around the ADC presidential candidate has never been compromised,” the council said, adding that Mr Atiku enjoyed two levels of state-funded security protection as a former vice-president.
It further claimed that Mr Tinubu had increased security protection for the ADC presidential candidate ahead of the elections.
The council said Mr Tinubu recognised opposition politics as an essential component of Nigeria’s 27-year-old democracy, recalling his role in mobilising opposition parties against the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which lost power at the federal level in 2015.
It accused Mr Frank and other opposition figures of making inflammatory statements and allegations to attract public attention and gain political advantage.
“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,” the statement said.
The council warned that politicians and their supporters might make provocative statements as the country moved deeper into the campaign season for the 2027 elections.
It, however, urged candidates, political parties and their supporters to exercise restraint and ensure that their public statements were factual and responsible.
“Let our political competition be peaceful, lawful, and focused on the big issues that matter to Nigerians, not character assassination or wild, baseless allegations,” the statement added.