Activist Timi Frank Wants US To Impose Visa Ban, Asset Freeze On Tinubu’s Officials Over ‘Threat To Democracy’

A former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has urged the United States and the international community to impose visa restrictions, economic sanctions, and asset freezes on key officials of the Federal Government, for their alleged involvement in actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s democracy.

In a press release issued on Friday and personally signed by Frank in his capacity as ULMWP Ambassador for East Africa and Middle East and Senior Advisor to the Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA, he called for sanctions against top government functionaries he accused of aiding anti-democratic practices.

Frank, in the strongly worded statement, alleged that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was deploying state institutions to weaken opposition parties ahead of future elections.

Addressing recent developments in the polity, he said, “the aim and goal is to ensure that no political party fields a candidate strong enough to contest with the President,” warning that such actions could plunge the country into crisis if not urgently addressed.

He specifically accused institutions such as the judiciary and legislature of being used to frustrate opposition forces, stressing that democracy should remain a contest of ideas rather than what he described as a “monarchical system.”

Frank called on the United States, the United Nations, and other global actors to intervene before the situation deteriorates.

“The international community must not wait until Nigeria descends into crisis or conflict before taking action,” he said, adding that any instability in Nigeria, with its population of over 200 million people, could trigger a massive refugee crisis across regions.

He also accused the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, of allegedly funding activities that undermine democratic processes, calling for sanctions against the apex bank’s leadership if such claims were established.

On the electoral body, Frank described the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as “biased and unfit,” alleging that the commission was being positioned to favour certain political interests.

He warned that key actors within the administration, including electoral officials, should be held accountable for any breakdown of law and order arising from the current political climate.

Frank further claimed he was ready to provide detailed information to foreign governments on assets owned by Nigerian public officials in jurisdictions such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates to facilitate targeted sanctions.

Describing his intervention as a “crisis warning,” he said urgent steps must be taken to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy and prevent what he termed a drift towards authoritarianism.

He added that he would make available to the U.S. government and other international actors a list of key officials in the Tinubu administration allegedly “colluding to truncate democratic rule in Nigeria” for possible blacklisting.

Frank also called on the US Embassy in Nigeria not only to shut down temporarily but to permanently deny visas to individuals and institutions he described as anti-democratic forces within the current administration.