Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has raised concerns over an alleged plot to assassinate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Frank claimed that the sudden withdrawal of all police personnel attached to Atiku, despite his statutory entitlement as a former vice president, is suspicious and appears to be part of a broader plan to expose him to danger. He made the remarks in a statement on Tuesday.
“No administration since 2007 has ever tampered with Atiku Abubakar’s security, despite his consistent role as a major opposition figure. Why now, at a time when insecurity is at an all-time high across the country? This action clearly reveals an ulterior motive,” he said.
Frank dismissed the official explanation that security withdrawals were being conducted broadly for all VIPs, insisting that the real target is Atiku Abubakar.
“This so-called blanket withdrawal is a cover-up. The real objective is to isolate and eliminate Atiku ahead of the 2027 election. The pattern is too obvious to ignore. By law, Atiku is entitled to police protection as a former vice president. Removing his security at this critical time is deliberate and dangerous,” he added.
He further warned that the move reflects worrying political trends across Africa, where incumbent leaders use state power to intimidate, detain, prosecute, or even eliminate opposition figures to retain power.
“President Tinubu is now following the disturbing trend seen in parts of Africa, where incumbents use state machinery to silence opponents. Atiku has been very vocal in exposing the administration’s failures, and this withdrawal of security is nothing but a political witch-hunt,” Frank asserted.
He challenged the government to substantiate its claim of a nationwide security withdrawal by also removing police protection for the president’s family members, close associates, and political appointees.
“If this directive is truly nationwide, then let the President’s family members, friends, and appointees also lose their security. They are also VIPs. But we know the truth: the main target is Atiku Abubakar, nobody else,” he said.
The warning comes as the Nigeria Police began withdrawing 11,566 officers previously assigned to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country. The move follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to reassign police officers amid rising insecurity concerns.