Get Guardian on Google…Former APC spokesman warns court judgment on ADC leadership could trigger political crisis ahead of 2027 elections
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of allegedly using the judiciary to weaken opposition parties, warning that the development could plunge Nigeria into political crisis ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Frank called on the United States Government and other members of the international community to intervene and prevail on the Nigerian government to respect democratic principles, judicial independence and the constitutional rights of opposition parties.
He spoke on Thursday while reacting to a court judgment concerning the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which he said raised concerns about alleged attempts to frustrate the presidential ambition of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
The judgment reportedly affected the leadership position of Senator David Mark in the opposition party.
In a statement, Frank described the development as an alleged attempt by those in power to deploy the judiciary against the growing political influence of the opposition.
He claimed the decision was part of a broader plot to prevent Atiku from participating effectively 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.
Frank urged the judiciary to remain impartial and avoid becoming entangled in political disputes ahead of the next general elections.
“The judiciary must stay clear of the 2027 elections. Its independence and impartiality are fundamental to the survival of our democracy,” he said.
He also alleged that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was being used as an intermediary to influence judicial actors against opposition politicians.
Frank claimed that political meetings and consultations took place after Atiku’s recent political outing in Sokoto, where thousands of supporters reportedly gathered for the launch of the ADC campaign.
According to him, the alleged moves were designed to frustrate Atiku’s political ambition after attempts to prevent the Sokoto event from holding failed.
“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 alleged.
The former APC spokesman, who is also the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria to protect the independence of the judiciary and ensure that courts were not perceived as instruments of the ruling party.
“The Chief Justice of Nigeria must wake up to her constitutional responsibilities as the guardian of judicial independence. The judiciary must not be perceived as an extension of the APC-led government,” he said.
He warned that any perception of judicial bias could erode public confidence in democratic institutions and heighten political tensions.
Frank expressed hope that the Court of Appeal would approach the matter differently, urging the appellate court to ensure that justice was served.
He particularly appealed to the United States Government to call the Tinubu administration to order, while urging 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.
Frank further accused the administration of attempting to undermine political participation in northern Nigeria by allegedly using judicial processes to weaken Atiku’s presidential ambition.
He insisted that the controversy should not be treated as a personal dispute involving the former vice-president alone, but as a broader issue concerning Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
“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.
Frank also alleged that the President was afraid of facing a competitive election and wanted Atiku removed from the race through the courts.
He warned that government officials found culpable in any attempt to undermine opposition participation would be held accountable.
“Let me make this clear: should anything go wrong, all government officials found responsible will be held accountable,” he declared.
Despite his concerns, Frank urged opposition parties and their supporters not to be discouraged, stressing the need for unity, perseverance and democratic participation.
He called on youths, civil society organisations, elder statesmen and former political leaders to unite in defending judicial independence and democratic institutions.
He also cautioned political actors against celebrating the misfortunes of their opponents, warning that a precedent established against one political leader could eventually affect others.
“No political camp should celebrate, because what happens to Atiku today could happen to another political leader tomorrow,” he said.
Frank maintained that Nigeria must not descend into political instability because of disagreements over electoral competition.
“This must not be seen as an Atiku issue alone; it concerns the future of every Nigerian and the survival of our democracy. Nigeria must not be pushed into chaos,” he added.
