A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement vital reforms ahead of the 2027 elections to ensure free, fair, and credible election.
According to him, without urgent reforms and ethical leadership by electoral and security institutions, “Nigeria faces heightened risk of violence and political instability akin to the ENDSARS and Nepal upheaval, undermining the nation’s democratic gains.”
Frank in a statement in Abuja called on President Donald Trump and other members of the international community to “help pressurise the Nigerian government, especially INEC and the National Assembly to prioritise electoral reforms without which there cannot be free and fair elections in 2027.”
He urged the US to “impose stiffer sanctions on judges, justices and INEC officials that may compromise the electoral process because we believe and support Donald Trump’s position on enthroning true democracy across Africa.”
Frank also called for the selection of a new INEC chairman with proven integrity now that the tenure of Mahmood Yakubu is about to elapse.
“Security agencies must be unbiased and stop their usual role in rigging elections for the ruling party. They must protect voters and prevent political violence. Failure to do so risks pushing Nigeria into a situation worse than Nepal’s recent unrest, given our challenges with poverty and tyranny”, he said.
Frank emphasised that both INEC, judiciary and security agencies, as well as other democratic institutions in Nigeria, have critical roles in upholding the rule of law and preventing unrest similar to recent Nepal protests.
He told the APC to stop attacking, intimidating and harassing opposition leaders in the country such as the attack on Mallam Nasir El-rufai in Kaduna, former AGF Abubakar Malami in Kebbi and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour in Lagos.
Frank described the recognition of recognition of the David Mark-led African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership by INEC as a positive step towards electoral inclusiveness and credibility.
He said, “This bold and positive action should not stand alone. As the nation looks ahead to the 2027 general elections, INEC must replicate this same spirit of independence and courage in the overall conduct of the polls.
“Now that the new leadership of the ADC has been recognised by INEC, we urge Nigerians to repose confidence in and support it as the party that would change Nigeria for the better and ensure freedom and prosperity for all. We also urge Nigerians to be prepared to vote and defend their votes in 2027.”
Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, warned that despite this progress, Nigerians remain skeptical of INEC’s neutrality due to contrived irregularities in the 2023 elections that favoured the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He assured INEC that anytime they act rightly, like they have done in recognising the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC and their pre-qualification of 14 associations for registration as political parties, he would commend them.
The politician declared however, that whenever they act contrary to their mandate as an umpire like their observable compromised stance on the recent by-elections, he would criticise them.
He said, “The by-elections recently conducted across the country showed avoidable lapses deliberately orchestrated by INEC to further their partisan interests – one reason Nigerians distrusts them because they’ve not been doing the right thing.
“Democracy thrives when arbiters remain neutral, courageous, and consistent in the face of political pressure. Nigeria’s democratic future and socio-economic development depends on bold decisions such as this”, the activist said.
To restore trust, Frank demanded that the INEC must push the National Assembly for constitutional and electoral reforms, including electronic transmission of results, and purge partisan officials aligned with the APC.
On voter engagement, he urged Nigerians to register and defend their votes but cautioned that low turnout reflects widespread lack of confidence in INEC’s impartiality.
Frank also challenged the judiciary to uphold justice without bias, serving as a true custodian of democracy rather than an extension of ruling party interests.
“Justice must not only be done but be seen to have been done. We will hold accountable any judge compromised by partisan influence.
“Let the Nigeria judiciary, especially the justices and judges to know that Nigerians will continue to shine searchlights on them since most of the electoral disputes often end up in their dockets.”
