Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has appealed to United States President Donald Trump and the international community to intervene over alleged threats to the life of African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Frank made the appeal in an open letter addressed to Trump and other international leaders on Monday, expressing concern over alleged plans to intimidate, arrest, detain or otherwise frustrate Atiku’s participation in the 2027 electoral process.

He urged the United States, the United Nations, African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom to engage the Nigerian government and seek credible assurances regarding the safety of opposition leaders.

According to Frank, the allegations surrounding Atiku’s safety and the possible use of state institutions against opposition figures require urgent and independent investigation.

“These allegations must be independently and urgently investigated. Given their gravity, however, they cannot be dismissed or ignored until it is too late to prevent harm,” he said.

Frank warned that using law enforcement and security agencies to frustrate opposition candidates could undermine democratic participation and weaken public confidence in Nigeria’s institutions.

He maintained that protecting opposition politicians was a fundamental responsibility of any democratic government rather than a privilege granted at the discretion of those in power.

“The protection of political opposition is not a favour that any government grants at its discretion. It is a fundamental obligation of every democratic state,” he stated.

The former APC spokesman also expressed concern over allegations that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) could be used to initiate proceedings against Atiku in a manner that might result in his arrest and prolonged detention during the election campaign.

However, Frank clarified that his position was not an attempt to shield political leaders from legitimate investigations. Instead, he insisted that law enforcement agencies must operate independently and without political interference.

“The concern is not that Atiku Abubakar should be placed above the law. The concern is that the law must never be placed at the service of political persecution,” he said.

He called on the Federal Government to ensure that any investigation involving opposition figures was supported by credible evidence and conducted in line with due process.

Frank added that the credibility of Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions depended on their ability to demonstrate fairness and impartiality in handling cases involving politicians across party lines.

“If the government expects Nigerians to trust its anti-corruption institutions, those institutions must demonstrate that justice is neither partisan nor selective,” he said.

Describing Atiku as one of Nigeria’s most prominent opposition figures, Frank argued that the former vice president’s criticism of government policies and participation in discussions on governance and accountability were legitimate aspects of democracy.

He stressed that political disagreements should be resolved through open debate and lawful processes rather than intimidation or threats.

“The test of Nigeria’s democracy is not whether the government protects its allies, but whether it protects the rights of those who challenge it,” he added.

Frank also raised concerns about the credibility of the 2027 general elections, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the judiciary to maintain neutrality in the discharge of their responsibilities.

He called for independent investigations into allegations of restrictions on opposition campaigns, political intimidation and interference with electoral institutions before such issues escalate into a broader crisis.

The former APC chieftain further urged the international community to support credible and independent election observation missions in Nigeria, with particular attention to political violence, voter intimidation, campaign restrictions, the conduct of security agencies and transparency in the electoral process.

According to him, international partners should not wait until a major political crisis occurs before taking preventive measures.

“Preventive diplomacy is not merely desirable; it is a responsibility,” he said.

Frank emphasised that his appeal to Trump and other world leaders was not intended to influence the choice of Nigeria’s next president but to ensure that citizens could freely decide their political future without fear or coercion.

“I am not asking the United States or any foreign government to determine who should govern Nigeria. That decision belongs exclusively to the Nigerian people.

“I am asking the international community to help ensure that Nigerians retain the freedom to make that decision without fear, coercion, or unlawful interference,” he stated.

He urged the Federal Government to provide credible assurances regarding the safety of Atiku and other opposition figures, while calling on international partners to intensify diplomatic engagement ahead of the elections.

Frank maintained that protecting Atiku’s life and liberty, ensuring the safety of opposition leaders and safeguarding the integrity of the 2027 general elections should be treated as urgent democratic priorities.

“The protection of Atiku Abubakar’s life and liberty, the safety of all opposition leaders, and the integrity of Nigeria’s 2027 elections must be treated as urgent democratic priorities,” he said.

He concluded by warning that the international community must act before any alleged threats develop into a tragedy.

“The world must not wait for a tragedy before it acts,” he added.

The Director of News and Politics at Arise News, Sumner Sambo, has said that no political party in Nigeria currently matches the All Progressives Congress (APC) in terms of political organisation and structure.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Sambo made the remark on Monday during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he assessed the preparedness of major political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the journalist, the ruling party appears to have the strongest organisational network and campaign structure among the country’s leading political parties.

He described the APC as a formidable political force, pointing to the team assembled by President Bola Tinubu and the party’s organisational arrangements as evidence of its strength.

“The APC appears to have the strongest political organisation, with no other party matching its structure.

“I’ve seen President Bola Tinubu having a formidable team, and I can tell you that the APC is doing very well because, as it stands right now, they seem the most formidable in terms of political organization,” Sambo said.

The Arise News journalist also highlighted the composition of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, noting that its membership and organisational framework reflected a high level of preparation for the forthcoming elections.

“Look at the composition of their presidential campaign council. Look at the structures they put in place, they look very well organized,” he added.

However, Sambo cautioned that the APC’s organisational advantage might not automatically translate into electoral success, particularly in major voting blocs where public dissatisfaction appears to be growing.

He observed that many voters, especially in the northern part of the country, were grappling with economic difficulties, political challenges and persistent insecurity.

According to him, these concerns, combined with internal disagreements within the ruling party, could create additional difficulties for the APC as it prepares for the 2027 elections.

“A lot of people in the major voting blocs are feeling the heat, economic heat, political heat, and then of course the issues of insurgency. So it’s a very difficult one, and I think what will worsen it is the internal contradictions within the APC,” he stated.

Sambo also disclosed that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) was scheduled to inaugurate its own Presidential Campaign Council on Tuesday.

He expressed hope that the opposition party would assemble a strong team capable of mounting a serious challenge in the 2027 general elections.

“The NDC is going to launch its own presidential campaign council tomorrow. We are hoping that it will be able to set up a formidable presidential campaign council,” he said.

The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to hold its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 2 pm at the council’s headquarters, located at Plot 781, Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Business District, Abuja.

The Secretary of the council and Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, announced the meeting in a notice issued on Sunday night.

According to the notice, attendance is restricted to the leadership and members of the campaign council, including directors and secretaries of its various directorates.

Uzodimma emphasised that the meeting would be strictly by invitation, with only the 134 members listed in the official notice permitted to attend.

He explained that the gathering would formally mark the commencement of the council’s activities ahead of the forthcoming election campaign.

The meeting will also provide an opportunity for members to review and adopt the campaign timetable, alongside deliberations on other important matters relating to the campaign.

A key item on the agenda is preparations for the official launch of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign, scheduled to take place in Kaduna on Saturday, October 24, 2026.

The notice stated that the meeting would formally begin the council’s collective assignment and enable members to consider the campaign calendar and discuss other related issues, including arrangements for the campaign flag-off.