Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has appealed to United States President Donald Trump, the United Nations (UN) and other international bodies to intervene diplomatically over alleged threats to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Frank made the appeal in an open letter addressed to Trump and other international leaders on Monday.
He called for urgent steps to protect Atiku’s safety and political rights amid concerns that opposition figures could face intimidation, arrest or detention during preparations for the next presidential election.
Frank urged the United States, the United Nations, the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom to engage the Nigerian government over the allegations.
He said international partners should seek assurances that Atiku and other opposition leaders would be able to participate in the electoral process without threats to their lives or restrictions on their political activities.
The former APC spokesman, who also serves as an ambassador of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) to East Africa and the Middle East, maintained that the allegations surrounding Atiku’s safety should not be ignored while waiting for a possible incident to occur.
“These allegations must be independently and urgently investigated. Given their gravity, however, they cannot be dismissed or ignored until it is too late to prevent harm,” he said.
Frank argued that the government had a responsibility to protect the rights of political opponents, regardless of their party affiliations or criticism of those in power.
He warned that any attempt to use state institutions to weaken opposition figures could undermine public confidence in the country’s democratic system.
“The protection of political opposition is not a favour that any government grants at its discretion. It is a fundamental obligation of every democratic state,” he said.
A major part of Frank’s concern centred on the possible use of anti-corruption agencies against opposition politicians.
He specifically mentioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), expressing fears that proceedings involving Atiku could potentially lead to his arrest and prolonged detention during the election campaign.
However, Frank clarified that his position was not an argument for granting Atiku or any other politician immunity from investigation.
Rather, he insisted that law enforcement agencies must carry out their duties independently and in accordance with established legal procedures.
“The concern is not that Atiku Abubakar should be placed above the law. The concern is that the law must never be placed at the service of political persecution,” he said.
He called on the Federal Government to ensure that any investigation involving opposition politicians was supported by credible evidence and conducted in accordance with due process.
He also urged the authorities to avoid actions that could create the impression that anti-corruption institutions were being deployed to settle political scores.
Frank further questioned what he described as the selective application of anti-corruption laws.
According to him, public trust in the EFCC and similar institutions depends on their willingness to investigate allegations fairly, irrespective of the political status or connections of those involved.
He maintained that individuals close to the presidency should not be protected from legitimate scrutiny while opposition figures face investigations that could be perceived as politically motivated.
“If the government expects Nigerians to trust its anti-corruption institutions, those institutions must demonstrate that justice is neither partisan nor selective,” he said.
Describing Atiku as one of the country’s most prominent opposition figures, Frank said his criticism of government policies and participation in public debates on governance and accountability were legitimate aspects of democratic politics.
He argued that disagreements between the government and its opponents should be settled through lawful processes and open political engagement rather than intimidation.
“The test of Nigeria’s democracy is not whether the government protects its allies, but whether it protects the rights of those who challenge it,” Frank added.
Frank also referred to public statements attributed to prominent political figures, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He said comments interpreted by critics as suggesting confidence in a predetermined election outcome could raise concerns about the credibility of the process.
“No political party or public official has the authority to predetermine the will of the Nigerian people.
“Elections must be won through the ballot, not through intimidation, institutional manipulation, or declarations that suggest the outcome has been settled in advance,” Frank said.
He urged INEC and the relevant security agencies to protect the electoral process and ensure that all parties could exercise their political rights.
He also called on international partners to support credible and independent election observation missions before, during and after the polls.
According to Frank, such missions should pay particular attention to political violence, voter intimidation, restrictions on campaigns, the conduct of security agencies and the transparency of electoral procedures.
He said international engagement should begin before tensions escalate, rather than after a major incident has occurred.
He argued that early diplomatic intervention could help prevent disputes, reassure political actors and strengthen confidence in the election.
“Preventive diplomacy is not merely desirable; it is a responsibility,” he said.
Frank stressed that his request to Trump and other international leaders was not an attempt to influence the choice of Nigeria’s next president.
He maintained that the responsibility for deciding who governs the country belongs to Nigerian voters, while international partners should support conditions that allow them to make that choice freely.
“I am not asking the United States or any foreign government to determine who should govern Nigeria. That decision belongs exclusively to the Nigerian people.
“I am asking the international community to help ensure that Nigerians retain the freedom to make that decision without fear, coercion, or unlawful interference,” he said.
He warned that electoral injustice or the perception that political competition was being restricted could deepen public distrust, increase tensions and threaten national stability.
He added that a serious political crisis in Nigeria could also have consequences for the wider West African region, given the country’s influence and strategic importance.
Frank therefore called on the Federal Government to provide credible assurances concerning the safety of Atiku and other opposition leaders.
He also urged international governments and institutions to intensify diplomatic engagement with Nigerian authorities as the country moves towards the 2027 elections.
“The protection of Atiku Abubakar’s life and liberty, the safety of all opposition leaders, and the integrity of Nigeria’s 2027 elections must be treated as urgent democratic priorities,” he said.
He added: “The world must not wait for a tragedy before it acts.”
