Timi Frank Urges U.S. Visa Ban on Tinubu's Officials

Timi Frank, the former deputy national public secretary of the APC, made a statement on Friday urging the United States government to impose visa restrictions, economic sanctions, and asset freezes on top officials of the Nigerian government, including those accused of aiding anti-democratic practices. Frank's comments were directed at the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which he accused of deploying state institutions to weaken opposition parties in preparation for future elections.

He warned that failure to address these issues could plunge Nigeria into a crisis, emphasizing that the country, with a population of 200 million, could trigger a massive refugee crisis across the region. Frank specifically criticized the actions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and noted that democracy should remain a contested idea rather than devolving into a monarchical system.

He called for intervention from the U.S. and the United Nations before Nigeria descends into conflict, highlighting the recent derecognition of the African Democratic Congress led by David Mark due to ongoing court disputes.