By Seun Ibiyemi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has rejected allegations by African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Frank Timi over an alleged plot to assassinate former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.
The council described the allegation as false, while denying claims that security personnel attached to the former vice president had been withdrawn.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, the council said President Bola Tinubu had reinforced security personnel assigned to Atiku, dismissing reports of a withdrawal as misleading.
It also challenged Timi to provide evidence to substantiate his allegation, urging security agencies to investigate the claim given its seriousness.
“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,” the statement said.
The council further urged Timi to provide any information in his possession that could assist a prompt investigation, stressing that credible threats to life must be treated seriously regardless of political affiliation.
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“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,” it added.
The APC campaign council maintained that neither the presidency nor the party’s campaign structure would engage in such a plot, insisting that political competition should be pursued through democratic engagement.
It said opposition politics remained essential to the survival of Nigeria’s democracy and that its focus was on strengthening democratic institutions, promoting good governance and preserving national peace and sovereignty.
The statement also cited Tinubu’s political history as evidence of his recognition of the role of opposition parties in a democratic system.
“President Bola Tinubu, as a statesman and an avowed democrat, recognises opposition politics as an essential part of the nation’s 27-year-old democracy,” the statement said.
It recalled that Tinubu spent 16 years in opposition politics and played a role in efforts that culminated in the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general election.
The council concluded that the allegation should be substantiated and investigated by the appropriate authorities, while reiterating its rejection of any suggestion that it was involved in a plan to harm Atiku or any opposition figure.
