Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has warned that Nigeria risks heading into a one-party political environment if opposition parties are prevented from freely organising campaigns and mobilising supporters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Frank, in a statement issued on Wednesday, accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of allegedly tolerating or encouraging tactics designed to frustrate opposition activities, including sponsored protests, intimidation and the alleged misuse of security agencies.
He said the reported obstacles confronting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its planned campaign rally in Sokoto raised fresh concerns about the freedom of political parties to operate in an increasingly tense pre-election environment.
The controversy followed allegations by former Vice-President and ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, that the Sokoto State Government and the Department of State Services (DSS) were frustrating the party’s planned rally.
Atiku had told journalists in Abuja on Tuesday that the ADC was denied access to public facilities and logistical support, while protesters were allegedly being mobilised to provoke disorder and create grounds for imposing a curfew that could stop the event.
Reacting, Frank described the allegations as part of what he called a disturbing pattern in which protests were allegedly being organised to undermine opposition gatherings.
“At every opposition rally across the country, this has become their new protest strategy. They are also involving security agencies, particularly the DSS,” he said.
The former APC spokesman warned Tinubu against allowing political interests to override constitutional guarantees, insisting that the right to assemble, campaign and mobilise supporters was not a privilege granted by the ruling party.
“Tinubu must not truncate this democracy with his desperation. Despite their denial, the facts on ground have shown clearly that they have a sinister plot against the opposition, and Nigerians will legally resist such moves vehemently,” he declared.
Frank specifically cautioned the Sokoto State Government and other state administrations against actions that could deny opposition parties access to public spaces or frustrate their lawful political programmes.
He argued that democracy could not survive where the ruling party enjoyed unrestricted political freedom while opposition groups faced intimidation and administrative barriers whenever they attempted to engage voters.
He also called on the United States Government and other members of the international community to pay closer attention to Nigeria’s political developments and take appropriate diplomatic steps to discourage violence and protect democratic participation.
Frank further warned that government officials and security operatives who allegedly participate in violating the constitutional rights of opposition parties should be prepared to answer for their actions.
“All those involved, including the security agencies, will be held responsible,” he said.
He urged Tinubu to demonstrate commitment to democratic governance by ensuring that security institutions and other federal agencies remained neutral and did not become instruments for settling political scores.
Frank, who is also the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, equally appealed to political parties and their supporters to avoid retaliatory actions capable of plunging the country into political violence.
He maintained that grievances arising from political activities should be addressed through lawful channels, while attacks on supporters and deliberate disruption of legitimate campaigns should attract appropriate legal consequences.
Frank insisted that the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend not only on the conduct of the electoral umpire but also on whether all political parties were allowed to compete freely, organise openly and reach voters without intimidation.
He warned that any attempt to shrink the democratic space ahead of the elections could damage public confidence in the electoral process and Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
