Abuja mosque protest: Timi Frank urges Tinubu to drop re-election bid

Former APC spokesman warns against imposing unpopular candidate, urges credible election
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has urged President Bola Tinubu to abandon his 2027 re-election bid and guarantee a free, fair and credible election, warning that any attempt to force his way back into office could plunge Nigeria into crisis.

Frank, reacting to the protest against Tinubu after Friday prayers at the Shehu Shagari Mosque in Area 1, Garki, Abuja, described the incident as evidence of growing public dissatisfaction with the President’s administration.
He advised Tinubu to listen to Nigerians and reconsider his re-election ambition rather than rely on assurances from political associates.

The President reportedly faced boos from some protesters who chanted “Ba ma yi” (we don’t want you) after prayers at the mosque. Some protesters were also seen in a viral video removing and destroying his campaign posters and billboards in parts of Area 1, Abuja.

Frank condemned the protesters’ decision to use a religious gathering to express their displeasure but commended the President’s security detail for ensuring his safety and de-escalating the situation.
He, however, urged Tinubu to recognise the political significance of the public reaction.

“The rejection was total and unmistakable. No Nigerian president has been embarrassed like this publicly. The way Nigerians rejected him speaks volumes but should he decide to go ahead and he loses, he should be prepared to accept defeat just like former President Goodluck Jonathan did,” he said.

The former APC spokesman expressed concern over what he described as a growing disconnect between assurances political associates were giving Tinubu about his chances of winning the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2027 and public sentiment.

He said the incident at the mosque exposed the gap between political promises and the reality on the ground.
“I have seen the confidence with which some people are assuring President Tinubu that he will win the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and that he is firmly in control. But the reported embarrassment he suffered during a prayer session in Abuja tells a different story.

“What happened in the FCT last Friday showed that political assurances and promises are not necessarily a reflection of the reality on the ground. The public reaction reflects the anger and dissatisfaction of Nigerians, which those around the President may not be telling him about,” Frank said.
He added that some political associates might be shielding the President from the extent of public dissatisfaction with his administration.

“My advice is that he should take a bow and leave the race. He should take this advice seriously,” he said.
Frank also questioned assurances by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike that Tinubu would secure 80 per cent of votes in Abuja and Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo’s pledge to deliver 2.5 million votes for the President in the state.
He argued that the public mood in Abuja and Jos following the APC rally suggested that such political projections might not reflect voters’ actual preferences.

“Those telling him to continue and assuring him that he will win the next election are merely deceiving him. Even some people within his political circle, including those involved in his campaign, know that selling his candidacy to Nigerians will be difficult,” he said.
Frank further alleged that financial considerations influenced some political endorsements and expressions of support for the President, urging Tinubu to seek honest assessments of his administration’s performance and popularity.

Atiku, Obi’s rallies should concern Tinubu, Frank says
The former APC spokesman urged Tinubu to take lessons from opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, whom he said continued to attract large crowds without offering financial inducements.

“Wherever these opposition leaders go, Nigerians come out in large numbers to receive them without being induced with rice or money. Their reception should tell the President something about the mood of the country,” he said.
He insisted that the President should withdraw from the 2027 contest rather than prolong what he described as an increasingly difficult political battle.
“I am telling him the truth: his time is up. He should not waste time but take a bow and leave the 2027 presidential race,” Frank said.

Warns against electoral manipulation
Frank also called on Tinubu to guarantee a transparent electoral process, insisting that the outcome of the 2027 general election must reflect the will of voters.
“The President should quit the race and allow other candidates to contest in a free, fair and credible election. Whoever wins should be allowed to emerge as the choice of the people,” he said.
He warned that attempts by political actors to manipulate the electoral process or impose an unpopular candidate could trigger widespread resistance and threaten national stability.

“Nigerians will not accept a situation in which someone is declared the winner when the people know they did not vote for him. They should not push the country into a crisis by attempting to impose him on the people,” he warned.
Frank, who is also the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, attributed growing public discontent to economic hardship and insecurity.

He listed hunger, unemployment, rising living costs and insecurity among the challenges fuelling public anger, arguing that government policies had worsened the difficulties confronting ordinary Nigerians.
“If the President had performed well, there would be no need for the desperation we are witnessing today,” he said.
He also questioned the credibility of political endorsements for Tinubu, alleging that some individuals and groups were motivated by anticipated financial benefits rather than genuine public support.

Despite his criticism, Frank said Tinubu still had an opportunity to secure a positive place in history by voluntarily stepping aside and ensuring a credible election.

“President Tinubu still has an opportunity to make history and have his name written in gold. He can achieve this by ensuring that the country conducts a free, fair and credible election,” he said.
Frank maintained that Nigerians were demanding an electoral process in which their votes would count and the people’s choice would prevail.