The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has dismissed allegations that the Nigerian Government is plotting to assassinate former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, describing the claim as false and baseless.

The council challenged Timi Frank, a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who made the allegation, to provide evidence to substantiate his claim.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, urged security agencies to invite Frank for questioning, stressing that any credible threat to life should be investigated irrespective of political affiliation.

The council also denied claims that security personnel attached to Atiku had been withdrawn, insisting that the former vice-president remained protected by the police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

It said President Bola Tinubu had directed security agencies to reinforce protection for presidential, vice-presidential, governorship and deputy governorship candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the statement, Atiku enjoys two levels of state-funded security protection as a former vice-president, adding that his security arrangements had been strengthened ahead of the elections.

The council described Frank’s allegation as an attempt to create political tension, accusing some opposition figures of making sensational claims and tagging foreign leaders and international organisations on social media to attract attention.

It, however, urged politicians and their supporters to exercise restraint in their public statements as the campaign season approaches.

The statement called on political parties and candidates to focus on issues affecting Nigerians and ensure that political competition remained peaceful and lawful, rather than being driven by what it described as character assassination and baseless allegations.