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Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, has warned President Bola Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, against alleged plans to manipulate the 2027 general election, insisting that Nigerians will not accept results that fail to reflect their votes.
Mr Frank also called on the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and other international partners to intervene ahead of the election to ensure a free, fair and credible process.
He made the demands in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, expressing concern over allegations that artificial intelligence-generated names and photographs had appeared in the national voters’ register published by INEC.
He urged the electoral commission to investigate the allegations, verify questionable entries and explain transparently how the register was compiled.
“This discovery of INEC using AI-generated voters’ register is a clear indication of a rigging plot,” he alleged.
Mr Frank warned that any attempt to manipulate the 2027 election could trigger serious political and security consequences, saying Nigerians would resist an electoral outcome that did not reflect their choices.
“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.
He added that Nigerians would no longer accept the usual advice to aggrieved candidates to seek redress in court after disputed elections.
“They believe they can rig the election and then tell the opposition to go to court. That will not happen in 2027,” he said.
The former APC spokesman also questioned public confidence in the judiciary, alleging that many Nigerians perceived the institution as being susceptible to external control.
He said the authorities should prevent electoral malpractice rather than allow disputes to emerge after the announcement of election results.
Mr Frank further accused INEC of failing to comply with the requirement to publish the voters’ register not later than 90 days before the general election.
Citing Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, as amended, he urged the commission to clarify its compliance with the provision and take necessary steps to address concerns surrounding the credibility of the register.
He said transparency in voter registration and election preparations was critical to building public confidence ahead of the polls.
The political activist also called on the US, UK and EU to engage the Nigerian government and INEC over the allegations, insisting that international partners should not wait until the election approaches before intervening.
He specifically urged the United States to draw on its diplomatic engagement with Nigeria ahead of the 2015 general election to encourage credible polls in 2027.
“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.
Mr Frank urged international partners to take the allegations seriously, engage relevant Nigerian authorities and encourage transparency in the management of the voters’ register and other electoral preparations.
He said INEC must demonstrate its independence, address concerns about the register and guarantee that every eligible Nigerian had the opportunity to cast a vote that would count.
Mr Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, also serves as a senior adviser to the Global Friendship City Association in the United States.
He urged Mr Tinubu and INEC to ensure that the 2027 general election was conducted transparently and that its outcome reflected the genuine wishes of Nigerians.
