Political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has condemned the recent elections in Tanzania, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast, describing them as “sham exercises” and “a disgrace to Africa.”
Frank alleged that the polls were marked by manipulation, intimidation, and political violence, claiming they were selections rather than genuine elections.
“These elections are a disgrace and shame to Africa,” he said. “In this 21st century, the continent should be making democratic progress, but what we see instead is the growing culture of rigging, violence, and oppression.”
He urged the United Nations (UN), United States (US), and the European Union (EU) not to recognise or congratulate the outcomes of such elections, warning that failure to act could push Africa into further instability.
“If nothing is done, this systematic rigging may soon lead to widespread civil unrest and more coups across the continent,” he cautioned.
Frank, who also serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate leaders of the affected countries for electoral violence and human rights abuses during the polls.
He further urged the US and EU to impose targeted sanctions on those responsible for undermining democracy, accusing African leaders of betraying the ideals of the continent’s founding fathers such as Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Nelson Mandela, Thomas Sankara, Patrice Lumumba, Modibo Keita, and Haile Selassie.
“The Africa we see today is not the one our heroes fought for. The dream of unity, one currency, and one passport has been replaced by selfishness and deceit,” he said.
Frank encouraged African youths to continue defending democracy and the right to vote, describing those who have died protecting their votes as heroes.
He also called global attention to ongoing protests in Tanzania, where citizens are reportedly demonstrating against what they describe as a compromised electoral process.
“The people are aggrieved because they know the election was rigged even before the results were announced. The world must act now,” he said.
Turning to Nigeria, Frank warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the polls must reflect the will of the people.
“Nigeria’s 2027 election must not be business as usual. Any attempt to subvert the people’s will shall be strongly resisted. Nigerians will no longer remain silent,” he warned.