From Adeko Ukpa

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has appealed to United States President Donald Trump to intervene diplomatically to ensure that Nigeria’s 2027 general elections are free, fair and credible.

Frank, in an open letter to Trump titled “No Mandate From Fraud: Election 2027,” urged the US government to impose targeted sanctions, including visa bans, asset freezes and financial restrictions, on electoral officials, judicial officers and security personnel found culpable of electoral manipulation.

He called on the Trump administration to adopt what he described as a “No Mandate From Fraud” policy, arguing that credible elections were essential to accountable leadership, economic development and national stability.

Frank expressed concern over the composition of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that the concentration of people from President Bola Tinubu’s ethnic group in key positions raised questions about the impartiality of the electoral umpire.

“The current composition of INEC has raised concerns about alleged ethnic concentration in key positions. If the country proceeds to the 2027 general election under these circumstances, we fear that the process could be compromised from the outset,” he said.

He urged the Trump administration to engage Tinubu and other Nigerian political leaders ahead of the elections, stressing that diplomatic intervention must come before the polls rather than after alleged irregularities have occurred.

“The Trump administration must act now to ensure electoral integrity in Nigeria. The time to act is before the elections, not after the damage has been done,” Frank said.

He added: “The United States must not wait for Nigeria to descend into crisis before intervening. By then, it may be too late to prevent the consequences.”

Frank called on Washington to deploy a high-level delegation to Nigeria and work with European allies to impress upon the country’s political leadership and electoral authorities the need to guarantee a credible electoral process.

He maintained that anyone found to have manipulated election results should face individual consequences, regardless of political affiliation, official position or influence.

“Any individual who participates in the manipulation, falsification, or rigging of the 2027 election will face immediate, individual consequences,” he said.

The proposed sanctions, according to Frank, should extend to judicial officers who knowingly validate fraudulent election results and security personnel who use their positions to intimidate voters or facilitate electoral manipulation.

He specifically called for scrutiny of the conduct of INEC’s chairman, national commissioners and other senior officials, as well as the Inspector-General of Police and senior personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), the armed forces and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Frank stressed that security agencies must remain politically neutral and protect voters, irrespective of their political affiliations.

“Security forces must be reminded that their duty is to the Nigerian Constitution and people, not to a political party,” he said.

The political activist argued that electoral malpractice and poor governance were among the factors compelling Nigerians to leave the country in search of better economic opportunities and living conditions.

He urged the United States to complement its border enforcement measures with diplomatic initiatives aimed at addressing what he described as some of the underlying causes of migration.

“Nigerians are not leaving Nigeria because they do not love their country. They are leaving because decades of rigged elections have produced leaders who destroy the economy, loot resources, and create insecurity,” Frank said.

He added: “Border enforcement alone cannot solve this. We must address the cause at the source.”

According to him, credible elections could help produce accountable governments capable of improving economic conditions, tackling insecurity and creating opportunities that would encourage Nigerians to remain in the country.

He also argued that better governance could encourage Nigerians living abroad to return and contribute to national development.

Frank described his proposal as consistent with Trump’s America First policy, arguing that a stable and democratically governed Nigeria would serve the economic and security interests of both countries.

He said credible leadership in Nigeria could strengthen bilateral cooperation in counterterrorism, energy development and efforts to address the influence of rival powers in Africa.

He also highlighted opportunities for American companies to support Nigeria’s electricity sector through technology, investment and technical expertise, particularly under a government committed to transparent and sustainable economic policies.

Frank urged Washington to reconsider what he described as business as usual in its dealings with governments whose legitimacy was disputed because of alleged electoral malpractice.

“A clear US message now that America will not do business as usual with any government, INEC official, judge, or security chief produced by or protecting a rigged election will save American lives, money, and border resources,” he said.

He maintained that early diplomatic engagement could help deter electoral malpractice and encourage Nigerian authorities to safeguard the integrity of the 2027 polls.

“Nigeria is blessed with everything to succeed except leadership. Help Nigerians choose their leaders freely in 2027, and you will cut off a major source of immigration at its root,” Frank said.

He urged the Trump administration to make electoral integrity a priority in its diplomatic engagement with Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.

By Adeko Ukpa

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has urged President Bola Tinubu to apologise to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Nigerians over the removal of petrol subsidy, accusing the Federal Government of adopting an intervention similar to a proposal it had previously criticised.

Frank, in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, was reacting to the Federal Government’s announcement of a 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail outlets, with priority given to public transport operators.

He argued that the temporary measure had exposed what he described as inconsistencies in the administration’s position on petrol subsidy, insisting that Nigerians deserved lasting relief from the economic hardship that followed the policy’s removal in 2023.

“We expect Tinubu and his government to first apologise to Atiku Abubakar for its previous attacks on his position to return fuel subsidy if voted into office as President.

“Secondly, he should commend him and thank him for what we consider an excellent proposal that could help address the current economic hardship facing Nigerians.

“Rather than dismissing his proposal, the government should recognise its potential to provide relief to Nigerians who are struggling with the prevailing economic situation.

“Any government genuinely committed to the welfare of the people should be willing to consider practical ideas that can ease their suffering, irrespective of who puts them forward,” he said.

The Federal Government announced the 30-day discount on Thursday as part of measures to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said the arrangement was not a return to subsidy but an offer to sell petrol at cost for an initial period of 30 days.

Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, however, questioned the distinction between the discount and the subsidy arrangement previously abolished by the administration, arguing that the new measure amounted to a reversal of its earlier hardline position.

“Simply put, Tinubu, who maintained a hardline stance on fuel subsidy removal, has gone back to his vomit,” he said.

He added: “The President must immediately apologise to Nigerians over the fuel subsidy removal now that he has realised his policy mistake, which has taken a huge toll on Nigerians economically since 2023.”

Frank also questioned whether the temporary intervention would provide meaningful relief to Nigerians who have struggled with rising transportation costs, food prices and shrinking purchasing power since the subsidy was removed.

He said the policy change in May 2023 had affected households and businesses across the country, with higher petrol prices feeding into the cost of transporting goods, running businesses and meeting basic household needs.

“For millions of Nigerians, the consequences of higher fuel prices have extended beyond the cost of filling a vehicle’s tank.

“Increased transport and logistics costs have put pressure on traders, manufacturers, farmers and small businesses, while households have had to contend with rising expenses for commuting, food and other necessities,” he said.

Frank argued that a 30-day discount could not reverse the cumulative effects of more than three years of economic pressure, particularly for workers and small-business owners whose earnings had struggled to keep pace with rising living costs.

He also raised questions about the scope and implementation of the intervention, including the number of NNPCL retail outlets participating in the scheme, the volume of petrol to be sold at discounted rates and the measures planned after the initial 30-day period.

According to him, the government must explain how the arrangement would provide sustained relief to transport operators, traders, workers and low-income households rather than offer a temporary reprieve.

The former APC spokesman said the latest development had also revived debate over Atiku’s proposal to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027.

In August, Atiku reiterated his position on the issue, declaring: “On the question of subsidy, my position has not changed and will not change: I will restore it!”

The former vice-president had argued that Nigeria should use its resources to protect citizens from severe economic hardship.

The Presidency, however, challenged the proposal, questioning its fiscal and legal basis and asking how a restored subsidy would avoid the problems associated with the previous system.

Frank said the Federal Government’s latest intervention had vindicated Atiku’s call for a subsidy arrangement intended to cushion Nigerians against rising fuel and transportation costs.

“But now, having seen the light in Atiku’s proposal, Tinubu simply came down off his high horse and adopted the idea without any acknowledgments,” he declared.

He warned the President against expecting the temporary discount to erase public dissatisfaction over the economic consequences of subsidy removal.

“Nigerians are no fools. They know how their present economic predicament started with ‘fuel subsidy is gone’ in 2023. They will definitely use their votes to reclaim their country and set it on the path of economic progress come 2027,” he said.

Frank maintained that the central issue was not whether the government described its latest intervention as a discount or a subsidy, but whether it would deliver meaningful and sustained relief.

He called on the administration to explain how the measure would address the broader cost-of-living crisis and prevent households and businesses from continuing to bear the brunt of high energy and transportation costs.

He insisted that Nigerians needed a coherent, long-term economic response rather than a temporary intervention that would expire after 30 days.

By Adeko Ukpa

The  17th Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the French Republic, Ambassador Ayodele Oke, CFR has promised to recalibrate the ties between the two countries.

He also promised to give priorities to security, trade, and investment.

Oke unfolded his agenda while presenting his Letters of Credence to the French President, Emmanuel Macron at Élysée Palace in Paris.

CAPTION: The 17th Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the French Republic, Ambassador Ayodele Oke, CFR presenting his Letters of Credence to President Emmanuel at Élysée Palace on Monday. PHOTO: NIGERIA EMBASSY, PARIS

Envoy’s Priorities for France

A statement by the Nigerian Embassy in Paris said he pledged to uphold Nigeria’s values and reputation with clarity and credibility.

He said: “I am pleased to inform you that on 5 October 2026, I presented my Letters of Credence to President Emmanuel Macron and formally assumed my duties as the 17th Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the French Republic.

“The brief yet significant ceremony took place in the grandeur of the historic, iconic Élysée Palace, with its regal ambience.

“It underscored the compelling need to elevate and recalibrate the partnership between Nigeria and France.

“This means strengthening bilateral relations in security, trade, and investment, while upholding our values and reputation with clarity and credibility.

“It also means shaping conversations, securing advantages, protecting citizens, and promoting Nigeria’s national image.”