Alleged Plot to Exclude ADC from 2027 Elections
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has alleged that there is a coordinated plan involving the Presidency, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and elements within the judiciary to remove the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from the 2027 general election ballot. Frank claimed the objective is to prevent the ADC and its expected presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, from participating in the election.
In a statement issued on Monday, Frank warned that excluding the ADC could trigger political instability and threaten Nigeria's democratic process. He called on Nigerians, opposition leaders, and the international community to defend democracy against what he described as an anti-democratic plot.
Details of the Alleged Conspiracy
Frank claimed that information from a senior source within the Presidency indicated that the ADC had become the main target of a strategy designed to weaken the opposition and pave the way for a one-party political system. He alleged that another political platform, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), was being used as a decoy while efforts focused on removing the ADC.
“We have been reliably informed of a fresh plot to use the judiciary and INEC to remove the ADC from the ballot come 2027. The ADC has always been the main target, while the NDC is merely being used as a decoy. The ultimate objective is to ensure that the ADC and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, do not participate in the 2027 election at all costs,” Frank said.
Frank, who also serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, urged Nigerians to remain alert, alleging that new developments connected to the plot would soon emerge.
Warnings and Appeals
The former APC spokesman warned that the alleged plot could lead to massive electoral fraud and urged the international community, particularly the United States government, to intervene. “The current administration has thrown decorum to the wind and appears determined to truncate democracy for selfish political interests by deploying state institutions against the opposition,” he alleged.
Frank cautioned INEC and the judiciary against becoming part of what he called an anti-democratic agenda, stating that those involved would be identified and held accountable. He also called on opposition leaders, civil society organisations, and democratic stakeholders to unite in defence of democracy ahead of the 2027 elections.
Context: NDC Legal Challenges
This allegation follows a recent High Court judgment in Lokoja concerning the legal status of the NDC. The media office of Peter Obi, the NDC's presidential candidate, described the ruling as a temporary obstacle and stated that the party's legal team would challenge the decision. The Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) said the party's lawyers were reviewing the judgment with a view to filing an appeal.
Frank's allegations highlight ongoing tensions within Nigeria's political landscape as the 2027 elections approach, with opposition parties expressing concerns about the use of state institutions to influence electoral outcomes.
