Tinubu’s campaign council denies plot to assassinate Atiku

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has denied allegations that the Federal Government is plotting to assassinate former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, challenging African Democratic Congress (ADC) member Timi Frank to substantiate his claim.

The council described the allegation as grave and urged security agencies to invite Frank to provide evidence to support it.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, said neither President Bola Tinubu nor the APC campaign council was involved in any plot to assassinate Atiku or any opposition figure.

“We categorically reject the claim that the presidency of Nigeria or the APC Campaign Council is involved in any plot to assassinate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any opposition figure,” the statement said.

Frank had alleged that the Nigerian government was plotting to assassinate Atiku, the ADC’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The APC council also dismissed claims that security personnel attached to the former vice-president had been withdrawn, insisting that he remained protected by the police and the Department of State Services (DSS).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 Alake, Tinubu recently directed security agencies to reinforce protection for presidential, vice-presidential, governorship and deputy governorship candidates across the country.

He said Atiku enjoyed two levels of state-funded security protection as a former vice-president and that his security arrangements had been strengthened ahead of the elections.

The council urged Frank to provide any information in his possession to enable security agencies to investigate the allegation, stressing that credible threats to life should be treated seriously regardless of political affiliation.

However, Alake accused Frank of making claims intended to attract attention and create political tension, describing the allegation as part of what he called opposition rabble-rousing.

He also urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to avoid unsubstantiated allegations and ensure that political competition remained peaceful and focused on issues affecting Nigerians.

Alake said Tinubu recognised opposition politics as essential to democracy, recalling the President’s role in the opposition movement that defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.

The statement was dated October 20, 2026.