Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, has called on the United States government and other international partners to intervene over what he described as attempts by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to use the judiciary against opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election.
Mr Frank warned that the alleged interference could trigger political instability and undermine Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
He made the call in a statement on Thursday while reacting to a recent court judgment which he said raised concerns about efforts to frustrate former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition and weaken the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Mr Frank described the judgment as an attempt by those in power to use the judiciary to contain the growing influence of the opposition.
He alleged that the development was part of a broader plan to prevent Mr Atiku from effectively participating in the 2027 presidential election.
“The recent court judgment has raised serious concerns about what appears to be a desperate act by the Presidency — an act reminiscent of a dying man clutching at straws,” he said.
He urged the judiciary to remain independent and avoid actions that could undermine its credibility ahead of the elections.
“The judiciary must stay clear of the 2027 elections. Its independence and impartiality are fundamental to the survival of our democracy,” he said.
Mr Frank also alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was being used as an intermediary to influence judicial actors against opposition politicians.
He claimed that meetings were held after Mr Atiku’s recent political outing in Sokoto to frustrate his presidential ambition.
“We were aware that immediately after the Sokoto outing, there were meetings aimed at thwarting Atiku’s ambition. Despite all efforts to prevent the Sokoto event from holding, it went ahead and has remained the talk of the town. Now, they appear to have resorted to this approach,” he said.
The former APC spokesman called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria to protect judicial independence and ensure that the courts were not perceived as instruments of the ruling party.
“The judiciary must not be perceived as an extension of the APC-led government. Such a perception will erode public confidence in our democratic institutions and could drive Nigeria towards anarchy,” he warned.
He expressed hope that the Court of Appeal would handle the matter differently, saying the controversy surrounding the judgment could heighten political tension if not properly addressed.
Mr Frank specifically urged the United States government to prevail on the Tinubu administration to respect democratic principles, judicial independence and the constitutional rights of opposition parties.
He also called on other international partners to monitor developments in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The alleged weaponisation of the judiciary against the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections poses a grave threat to our democracy and could plunge Africa’s largest country into a serious political crisis,” he said.
Mr Frank further accused the administration of attempting to weaken political participation in northern Nigeria by using judicial processes to undermine Mr Atiku’s presidential ambition.
He, however, insisted that the controversy was not merely about Mr Atiku but the survival of multiparty democracy in the country.
“If President Tinubu is genuinely popular, let him demonstrate it through free, fair and credible elections, conducted through the established mechanisms of INEC and not the judiciary,” he said.
