The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has called on the international community to take urgent diplomatic action against officials of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration allegedly undermining democracy and human rights in Nigeria.

The party, in a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, urged the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), African Union (AU), Commonwealth of Nations, United States, United Kingdom, France and other international partners to intervene in what it described as Nigeria’s drift towards authoritarianism.

APM’s position followed a report published on the Human Rights Foundation’s (HRF) Tyranny Tracker platform, which, according to the party, classified Nigeria as a “full authoritarian state” under President Tinubu.

The party said the report reinforced its earlier warnings over what it described as “authoritarian tendencies” of the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

It alleged that democratic institutions, security and anti-corruption agencies, as well as the judiciary, had been subjected to executive influence and used against opposition parties and critical voices.

The party also accused the administration of suppressing freedom of expression and the media, alleging that journalists had been brutalised or detained while covering pro-democracy protests and critical reports.

According to APM, opposition parties and their leaders had similarly faced intimidation, harassment, arrests and prosecution, while political parties in some APC-controlled states were allegedly denied access to public venues, media platforms and opportunities to erect campaign billboards.

The party further raised concerns over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging undue interference in the internal affairs of opposition parties and failure to comply with court orders favourable to them.

APM claimed that the development had eroded public confidence in the electoral commission’s ability to conduct credible and transparent general elections in 2027.

It also accused the APC-controlled National Assembly of failing to adequately exercise its constitutional responsibility of checking executive excesses, describing the legislature as increasingly compromised.

On the economy, the party criticised what it called “asphyxiating economic policies,” multiple taxes, indirect levies and alleged harassment associated with revenue collection, warning that the combined effect could further worsen hardship among citizens and businesses.

APM expressed concern that the situation, if left unchecked, could degenerate into a major national crisis with consequences beyond Nigeria’s borders.

The party therefore urged foreign governments and international institutions to consider diplomatic sanctions, including visa restrictions and asset freezes against Nigerian officials allegedly involved in undermining democratic governance.

“The APM calls on the international community to take firm steps to protect democracy in Nigeria, including possible imposition of diplomatic sanctions, visa bans, asset freezing and other strong measures against Nigerian officials who are undermining democracy in our country,” Yusuf said.

The party also called on Nigerians, civil society organisations, opposition parties, the media and other groups to unite against what it described as authoritarianism, while urging citizens to use lawful means to challenge the government.

APM urged Nigerians to make the 2027 general elections a decisive opportunity to remove the APC from power and elect what it described as a “truly democratic and people-oriented government.”

The party said its objective was to restore the country to the path of constitutionalism, rule of law, economic prosperity and national stability.

It, however, warned that failure to address the alleged erosion of democratic institutions could trigger a humanitarian and political crisis capable of affecting Nigeria’s neighbours and the wider international community.