In a fiery statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of deploying blackmail, intimidation, and manipulation to cling to power ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Frank warned that Tinubu’s 2027 ambition is laced with desperation and a dangerous disregard for Nigeria’s unity, democratic values, and constitutional governance. According to him, the president is “blackmailing Southerners and threatening Northern leaders,” forcing at least five opposition governors under duress to defect to the APC.
“Tinubu’s latest plot is nothing but a divisive, tribalistic power grab,” Frank stated, adding that the president is using ethnic sentiments as leverage while “threatening to declare a state of emergency in opposition states” under the guise of battling corruption and insecurity.
Frank accused Tinubu of undermining democracy by intentionally engineering crises within opposition parties to weaken viable presidential challengers in 2027. “His singular aim is to retain power by hook or crook,” he warned. “This is a man who, after pushing Nigeria into economic turmoil with fuel subsidy removal and skyrocketing living costs, now seeks to impose himself again on the people.”
The Bayelsa-born political activist decried the rising cost of living, insecurity, and economic hardship, blaming Tinubu’s policies for the suffering endured by Nigerians. He called on both Northern and Southern leaders, especially within the opposition, to resist the pressure and unite for the sake of national stability and development.
“To Tinubu, it’s no longer about leadership or progress. It’s about self-preservation and regional manipulation,” Frank added. “If the North cannot see the signs of looming political betrayal, they may wake up too late in 2027.”
Frank concluded with a rallying cry to all opposition parties and Nigerians to reject what he described as a tyrannical bid to hijack the future. “This is no longer about PDP, LP, or APGA. It’s about saving Nigeria from a path of destruction. We must unite and defend democracy with all that is legally necessary.”
The statement, signed by Frank in his capacity as ULMWP Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, has already sparked conversations among political stakeholders, with many anticipating more reactions in the days ahead.