Former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has asked the United States and the international community to impose sanctions on key Federal Government officials, alleging actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s democracy.
Frank, in a strongly worded statement on Friday, urged the U.S. government to impose visa restrictions, economic sanctions and asset freezes on top government functionaries, including officials he accused of aiding anti-democratic practices.
He alleged that the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was deploying state institutions to weaken opposition parties ahead of future elections.
According to him, “the aim and goal is to ensure that no political party fields a candidate strong enough to contest with 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, noting 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,
He added that any instability in Nigeria, given its population of over 200 million people, 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, calling for sanctions against the bank’s leadership if such actions are established.
On the electoral body, he described the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, as “biased and unfit,” alleging that the commission was being positioned to favor 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 claimed he would be 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 provide the U.S. government and leaders of the international community with a list of key officials of Tinubu’s administration colluding to truncate democratic rule in Nigeria for blacklisting.
He called on the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria not only to shut down temporarily but to permanently deny visas to all anti-democracy forces and institutions in Tinubu’s regime.
