Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Monday, appealed to United States President Donald Trump and the international community to intervene diplomatically over alleged threats to the life and political freedom of the Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Frank, in an open letter addressed to Trump and other international leaders, expressed concern over reports of alleged plans to intimidate, arrest, detain or otherwise undermine Atiku’s participation in the forthcoming electoral process.
He urged the United States, the United Nations, the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom to engage the Nigerian government and demand credible assurances regarding the safety of opposition leaders.
According to Frank who serves as an Ambassador to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) to East Africa and Middle East, the allegations surrounding Atiku’s safety and the potential use of state institutions against opposition figures require urgent and independent investigation.
“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 warned that any attempt to use law enforcement or security agencies to obstruct opposition candidates would undermine democratic participation and public confidence in Nigeria’s institutions.
“The protection of political opposition is not a favour that any government grants at its discretion. It is a fundamental obligation of every democratic state,” he said.
He specifically expressed concern over allegations that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) could be used to initiate proceedings against Atiku in circumstances that might result in his arrest and prolonged detention during the election campaign.
Frank, however, stressed that his position was not that political figures should be exempt from legitimate investigations, but that law enforcement must operate independently and without political interference.
“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 urged the Federal Government in Nigeria to ensure that any investigation involving opposition figures was based on credible evidence and conducted in accordance with due process.
Frank also raised concerns about the perceived selective application of anti-corruption laws, arguing that public confidence in institutions such as the EFCC depended on their ability to investigate allegations impartially, irrespective of political affiliation.
He maintained that no public official or political associate should be shielded from legitimate scrutiny because of proximity to the presidency.
“If the government expects Nigerians to trust its anti-corruption institutions, those institutions must demonstrate that justice is neither partisan nor selective,” he said.
The activist described Atiku as one of Nigeria’s most prominent opposition figures, noting that his criticisms of government policies and his participation in debates on governance and public accountability were legitimate features of a democratic system.
He said political disagreements should be addressed through open debate and lawful procedures rather than intimidation or threats.
“The test of Nigeria’s democracy is not whether the government protects its allies, but whether it protects the rights of those who challenge it,” Frank added.
Concerns over 2027 elections
Frank also expressed concern about the credibility of the 2027 general elections, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the judiciary to demonstrate impartiality in the discharge of their responsibilities.
He said allegations of restrictions on opposition campaigns, political intimidation and interference with electoral institutions should be independently investigated before they escalate.
The activist also referred to public statements attributed to prominent political figures, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, which critics have interpreted as suggesting confidence in a predetermined electoral outcome.
He called for responsible political rhetoric, warning that statements capable of creating the impression that election results had already been settled could further undermine public confidence.
“No political party or public official has the authority to predetermine the will of the Nigerian people.
“Elections must be won through the ballot, not through intimidation, institutional manipulation, or declarations that suggest the outcome has been settled in advance,” Frank said.
He urged the international community to support credible and independent election observation missions in Nigeria, with particular attention to political violence, voter intimidation, campaign restrictions, the conduct of security agencies and the transparency of the electoral process.
Frank said the international community should not wait until a major political crisis erupts before taking preventive action.
“Preventive diplomacy is not merely desirable; it is a responsibility,” he said.
Frank stressed that his appeal to Trump and other international leaders was not an attempt to influence who should govern Nigeria, but a call for safeguards to ensure that Nigerians could freely determine their political future.
“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.
“I am asking the international community to help ensure that Nigerians retain the freedom to make that decision without fear, coercion, or unlawful interference,” he said.
He warned that electoral injustice could deepen public distrust, heighten political tensions and threaten national stability, with possible implications for the wider West African region.
Frank urged the Nigerian government to provide credible assurances concerning the safety of Atiku and other opposition figures, while calling on international partners to intensify diplomatic engagement ahead of the elections.
“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.”