…Tinubu orders enhanced security for presidential, governorship candidates, says Alake
By Our Reporter
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has denied allegations that the Federal Government is plotting to assassinate former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, challenging the accuser, Timi Frank, to provide evidence to support his claim.
Frank, a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had alleged that the Nigerian Government was plotting to assassinate Atiku, the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the APC campaign council spokesperson, Dele Alake, described the allegation as grave and urged security agencies to invite Frank to substantiate it.
Alake also called on Frank to provide any information in his possession that could assist an investigation, stressing that credible threats to life must be treated seriously, irrespective of political affiliation.
The campaign council categorically denied that President Bola Tinubu or the APC was involved in any plot to assassinate 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It also dismissed claims that security personnel attached to the former vice-president had been withdrawn, insisting that he remained protected by the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to Alake, Tinubu recently directed security agencies to reinforce and increase protection for presidential, vice-presidential, governorship and deputy governorship candidates across the country ahead of the 2027 elections.
He maintained that Atiku’s security arrangements had not been compromised, adding that the former vice-president enjoyed two levels of state-funded security protection.
Alake further stated that Tinubu had directed increased security protection for Atiku in his capacity as a presidential candidate ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
Defending the President’s democratic credentials, the APC spokesperson said Tinubu recognised opposition politics as an essential component of Nigeria’s democracy.
He recalled that Tinubu had been a prominent opposition figure for 16 years before the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.
Alake accused Frank of making inflammatory claims for political attention, describing the allegation as an attempt to heighten political tension.
He also criticised what he called a pattern among some opposition figures of writing open letters and tagging foreign leaders and international organisations in social media posts to attract attention.
The APC campaign council spokesperson warned that politicians and their supporters could resort to unsubstantiated allegations as the 2027 election season approached, urging political actors to exercise restraint in their public statements.
He called on candidates, political parties and their supporters to prioritise factual communication and avoid statements capable of triggering unnecessary tension.
Alake said political competition should remain peaceful, lawful and focused on issues affecting Nigerians rather than personal attacks and allegations he described as baseless.
