Timi Frank Calls for INEC Reforms, Warns of Nepal-Like Crisis if 2027 Polls Lack Credibility

Political activist and former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to carry out crucial reforms before the 2027 general elections to guarantee free, fair, and credible polls.

Frank stressed that without urgent reforms and integrity from both electoral and security institutions, Nigeria could face widespread unrest and instability similar to the #EndSARS protests and Nepal’s political crisis—threatening the country’s democratic progress.

In a statement released in Abuja, he also appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump and the international community to put pressure on the Nigerian government, particularly INEC and the National Assembly, to prioritize electoral reforms. According to him, without such reforms, credible elections in 2027 will be impossible.

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 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—such as 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 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 Nigerian judiciary, especially the justices and judges, know that Nigerians will continue to shine searchlights on them since most of the electoral disputes often end up in their dockets.”