*Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has denied allegations that the Federal Government is plotting to assassinate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing the claim as false and demanding evidence from its author, Timi Frank.

Frank, a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had alleged that the Nigerian government was planning to assassinate Atiku, the party’s presidential candidate.

Reacting in a statement on Tuesday, the council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, urged security agencies to invite Frank to substantiate the allegation, given its gravity and the need to protect lives.

Alake also called on Frank to provide any information in his possession that could assist security agencies in investigating the alleged threat.

“Any credible threat to life must be treated seriously, irrespective of political affiliation,” he said.

The APC campaign council categorically denied that President Bola Tinubu or the party’s campaign council was involved in any plot to assassinate Atiku or any opposition figure.

It also dismissed reports that security personnel attached to the former vice president had been withdrawn, insisting that he remained protected by the police and the Department of State Services (DSS).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 and increase protection for presidential, vice-presidential, governorship and deputy governorship candidates across the country.

He said Atiku’s security arrangements had not been compromised, adding that the former vice president enjoyed two levels of state-funded security protection by virtue of his previous position.

Alake further stated that Tinubu had increased security protection for Atiku as a presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 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 spent 16 years as a prominent opposition figure and played a key role in the political movement that defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.

Alake accused Frank of making allegations capable of heightening political tension, describing the claim as an attempt to attract attention and provoke controversy.

He also criticised what he described as 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 warned that political actors might resort to provocative statements and unsubstantiated allegations as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.

It urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to exercise restraint and ensure that public statements were factual and responsible.

Alake said political competition should remain peaceful, lawful and focused on issues affecting Nigerians rather than personal attacks and allegations capable of creating unnecessary tension.