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.
END
Comrade Timi Frank
ULMWP Ambassador (East Africa and Middle East)
Senior Adviser, Global Friendship City Association, USA.
