Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has raised the alarm over an alleged threat to the life and political freedom of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, prompting the APC Presidential Campaign Council to deny any plot against the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate.
Frank, in an open letter to United States President Donald Trump and other international leaders, urged the international community to intervene diplomatically ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He expressed concern over alleged plans to intimidate, arrest or detain Atiku in a manner that could undermine his participation in the electoral process.
Frank specifically raised concerns about the possible use of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to initiate proceedings against the former vice president, potentially leading to his arrest and prolonged detention during the election campaign.
He called on the United States, the United Nations, the African Union, ECOWAS, the European Union and the United Kingdom to engage the Nigerian government and seek assurances on the safety of opposition leaders.
“These allegations must be independently and urgently investigated. Given their gravity, however, they cannot be dismissed or ignored until it is too late to prevent harm,” Frank said.
He maintained that his concerns were not a call for Atiku to be exempted from legitimate investigations but for law enforcement agencies to operate independently and without political interference.
“The concern is not that Atiku Abubakar should be placed above the law. The concern is that the law must never be placed at the service of political persecution,” he said.
Frank also questioned the perceived selective application of anti-corruption laws and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies and the judiciary to demonstrate impartiality ahead of the elections.
He urged international partners to support credible and independent election observation missions, with particular attention to political violence, voter intimidation, campaign restrictions and the conduct of security agencies.
“The test of Nigeria’s democracy is not whether the government protects its allies, but whether it protects the rights of those who challenge it,” he added.
APC campaign council rejects allegation
However, the APC Presidential Campaign Council has dismissed Frank’s claims, insisting that neither the Presidency nor the council is involved in any plot to assassinate Atiku or any opposition figure.
In a statement on Tuesday, the council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, described the allegation as grave and urged security agencies to invite Frank to substantiate it.
“We thus urge security agencies to invite him to substantiate the allegation, given its gravity and the urgent need to preserve life. We also urge Mr Frank not to hesitate to provide any information in his possession that will enable prompt investigation,” Alake said.
He added that any credible threat to life should be treated seriously, irrespective of political affiliation.
The council also rejected claims that security personnel attached to Atiku had been withdrawn, saying the former vice president remained protected by the police and the Department of State Services.
According to Alake, President Bola Tinubu recently directed security agencies to reinforce protection for presidential, vice-presidential, governorship and deputy governorship candidates across the country.
He said Atiku, as a former vice president, enjoys two levels of state-funded security protection, adding that his security arrangements had been strengthened ahead of the 2027 elections.
Alake also defended Tinubu’s record on opposition politics, describing him as a statesman and democrat who recognised the importance of political competition.
He recalled that Tinubu played a prominent role in the opposition movement that defeated the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015.
The council accused Frank and other opposition figures of making unsubstantiated claims to attract attention and gain political advantage.
It urged politicians and their supporters to be factual and responsible in their public statements, warning against allegations that could heighten political tension.
The council called for peaceful and lawful political competition focused on issues affecting Nigerians rather than what it described as baseless allegations.
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