TIMI FRANK TASKS INEC ON TRANSPARENCY AHEAD OF 2027 ELECTION
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By ‘Balogun Ibrahim
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission against manipulating the 2027 general elections, warning that Nigerians may reject any result that does not reflect their votes.
Frank also urged the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union to engage diplomatically ahead of the elections to promote a free, fair and credible process.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, the former APC spokesman raised concerns over allegations that artificial intelligence-generated names and photographs had been discovered in the national voter register, describing the development as a potential threat to electoral credibility.
He called on INEC to investigate the claims, verify questionable entries and provide a transparent explanation of how the voter register was compiled.
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Frank said the alleged inclusion of AI-generated voter information raised concerns about the commission’s preparedness and independence ahead of the 2027 polls.
He warned that any attempt to manipulate the elections could lead to serious political and security consequences, insisting that Nigerians would not accept an outcome imposed against their wishes.
“President Tinubu and INEC should understand that any attempt to rig the 2027 election will have serious consequences. What is happening in France and other European countries would be child’s play compared with what could happen in Nigeria,” he said.
Frank also warned against depending on the courts to resolve disputes arising from a disputed election, arguing that efforts should instead be directed towards preventing electoral malpractice.
He said the authorities should not expect aggrieved candidates and political parties to seek judicial redress after an election allegedly compromised by irregularities.
“They believe they can rig the election and then tell the opposition to go to court. That will not happen in 2027,” he added.
The former APC spokesman further expressed concern about public confidence in the judiciary, alleging that many Nigerians believed the institution was vulnerable to political influence.
He also accused INEC of failing to meet the statutory requirement to publish the national register of voters at least 90 days before the general election.
Citing Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, as amended, Frank urged the commission to clarify its compliance with the provision and address concerns surrounding the voter register before the polls.
He maintained that the credibility of the voter register was essential to the integrity of the electoral process, stressing that every eligible Nigerian must be allowed to exercise their voting rights without interference.
Frank called on the US, UK, EU and other international partners to engage the Nigerian government and INEC ahead of the elections to prevent irregularities and strengthen public confidence in the process.
He specifically urged the United States to draw on its diplomatic involvement during Nigeria’s 2015 general election, which he said could serve as a model for international efforts to safeguard the 2027 polls.
“This is the time we expect the American government to do what they did in 2015 to ensure Nigeria conducts free and fair elections in 2027,” he said.
Frank insisted that international partners should not wait until electoral disputes emerge before engaging Nigerian authorities, urging them to monitor developments relating to voter registration and preparations for the elections.
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