With Nigeria heading towards the 2027 general election, former All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, has urged the international community to scrutinise the conduct of anti-corruption agencies and other state institutions amid allegations of possible political intimidation against opposition figures.
Frank appealed to US President Donald Trump and other international leaders to engage the Nigerian government over alleged threats to the safety and political freedom of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In an open letter dated October 19, 2026, he urged the United States, United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, European Union and United Kingdom to seek assurances that opposition leaders would be able to participate freely in the electoral process.
Frank expressed concern that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) could allegedly be used to initiate proceedings against Atiku in circumstances that might lead to his arrest and prolonged detention during the election campaign.
He did not present evidence of a specific plot against Atiku but called for an independent investigation into the allegations.
“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,” he said.
Frank insisted that his concern was not to shield Atiku from legitimate investigations but to prevent law enforcement from being used for political purposes.
“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.
He argued that the credibility of anti-corruption agencies depended on their ability to investigate allegations impartially, regardless of the political affiliations of those involved.
“If the government expects Nigerians to trust its anti-corruption institutions, those institutions must demonstrate that justice is neither partisan nor selective,” he said.
Frank widened his appeal beyond Atiku, warning that allegations of intimidation, restrictions on opposition campaigns and interference with electoral institutions could undermine confidence in the 2027 elections.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the judiciary to demonstrate impartiality in carrying out their responsibilities.
He also cited statements attributed to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, which critics have interpreted as suggesting confidence in a predetermined electoral outcome.
Frank urged political leaders to avoid rhetoric that could give voters the impression that the outcome had already been settled.
“No political party or public official has the authority to predetermine the will of the Nigerian people,” he said.
“Elections must be won through the ballot, not through intimidation, institutional manipulation, or declarations that suggest the outcome has been settled in advance.”
He called for credible and independent international election observation, with particular attention to political violence, voter intimidation, campaign restrictions and the conduct of security agencies.
Frank said international engagement should begin before tensions escalate, rather than wait for a crisis.
“Preventive diplomacy is not merely desirable; it is a responsibility,” he said.
He stressed that he was not asking foreign governments to determine Nigeria’s leadership but to support safeguards that would allow Nigerians to choose their leaders freely.
“I am not asking the United States or any foreign government to determine who should govern Nigeria. That decision belongs exclusively to the Nigerian people,” he said.
“I am asking the international community to help ensure that Nigerians retain the freedom to make that decision without fear, coercion, or unlawful interference.”
Frank warned that electoral injustice could deepen public distrust, heighten political tensions and threaten national stability, with possible implications for the wider West African region.
He urged the Federal Government to provide credible assurances about the safety of Atiku and other opposition figures.
“The protection of Atiku Abubakar’s life and liberty, the safety of all opposition leaders, and the integrity of Nigeria’s 2027 elections must be treated as urgent democratic priorities,” he said.
He added: “The world must not wait for a tragedy before it acts.”
Frank signed the letter as Ambassador of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) for East Africa and the Middle East and Senior Adviser to the Global Friendship City Association in the United States.
His appeal places the focus on a central democratic question ahead of 2027: whether anti-corruption agencies and other state institutions will be seen to operate impartially when political competition intensifies.
The allegations concerning Atiku remain unsubstantiated in the statement, making independent verification essential.
