•Timi Frank and Tinubu
A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has called on the United States and the international community to impose sanctions on key officials of the federal government over alleged actions undermining Nigeria’s democracy.
In a strongly worded statement, Frank urged the U.S. government to impose visa restrictions, economic sanctions, and asset freezes on top government functionaries, including those he accused of enabling anti-democratic practices.
He alleged that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is deploying state institutions to weaken opposition parties ahead of future elections, reports The Guardian.
According to him, “the aim is to ensure that no political party fields a candidate strong enough to challenge the President,” warning that such actions could plunge the country into crisis if not urgently addressed.
Frank specifically accused institutions such as the judiciary and legislature of being used to frustrate opposition forces, stressing that democracy should remain a contest of ideas rather than what he described as a “monarchical system.”
He called on the United States, the United Nations, and other global actors to intervene before the situation deteriorates.
“The international community must not wait until Nigeria descends into crisis or conflict before taking action,” he said, adding that any instability in Nigeria—given its population of over 200 million—could trigger a massive refugee crisis across regions.
Frank also accused the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Yemi Cardoso, of allegedly funding activities that undermine democratic processes, and called for sanctions against the bank’s leadership if such claims are proven.
On the electoral body, he described the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as “biased and unfit,” alleging that the commission is being positioned to favour certain political interests.
He warned that key actors within the administration, including electoral officials, should be held accountable for any breakdown of law and order arising from the current political climate.
Frank further stated that he is ready to provide detailed information to foreign governments on assets owned by Nigerian public officials in jurisdictions such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates, to facilitate targeted sanctions.
Describing his intervention as a “crisis warning,” Frank said urgent steps must be taken to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy and prevent what he termed a drift towards authoritarianism.
He added that he would make available to the U.S. government and leaders of the international community a list of key officials in the Tinubu administration allegedly colluding to undermine democratic rule in Nigeria for possible blacklisting.
Frank also called on the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria to deny visas to individuals and institutions he described as anti-democratic actors within the Tinubu administration.
