Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement urgent reforms to guarantee free, fair, and credible elections in 2027.
In a statement on Sunday, the political activist warned that without ethical leadership from INEC, security agencies, and the judiciary, Nigeria risks sliding into violence and instability similar to the EndSARS protests or Nepal’s recent upheaval.
Frank appealed to the international community, particularly the United States, to pressure the Nigerian government and electoral institutions to prioritise reforms. He called for sanctions against judges, justices, and INEC officials who compromise elections, while also demanding the appointment of a new INEC chairman with proven integrity as Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure winds down.
“Security agencies must be neutral and protect voters, not rig elections for the ruling party. Failure to do so risks pushing Nigeria into deeper unrest, given our poverty and governance challenges,” he said.
Frank welcomed INEC’s recognition of the David Mark-led African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership as a step toward electoral inclusiveness but urged consistency. He criticised the commission’s handling of recent by-elections, alleging deliberate lapses, and demanded reforms including electronic transmission of results and the removal of partisan officials.
He also cautioned the judiciary to uphold justice without bias, stressing that “justice must not only be done but be seen to have been done,” as most electoral disputes end up in the courts.
Frank, who serves as Ambassador of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) to East Africa and the Middle East, encouraged Nigerians to register, vote, and defend their votes in 2027, while insisting that democracy can only thrive if arbiters remain neutral, courageous, and consistent.
