Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has warned President Bola Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission against manipulating the 2027 general elections, insisting that Nigerians will resist any outcome that does not reflect their votes.
Frank, in a statement issued in Abuja, raised concerns over allegations that artificial intelligence-generated names and photographs had been introduced into the national voters’ register, describing the development as a threat to electoral credibility.
He challenged INEC to investigate the claims, scrutinise questionable entries and publicly explain how the voters’ register was compiled, warning that failure to address the concerns could fuel suspicions of plans to compromise the next general election.
Frank said any attempt to manipulate the 2027 polls could trigger serious political and social consequences, cautioning the President and the electoral body against underestimating public anger over electoral malpractice.
“Nigerians will not accept an election that fails to reflect their choices. Those who think they can manipulate the process and ask aggrieved candidates to seek redress in court should understand that such an approach may not work in 2027,” he said.
The former APC spokesman also questioned public confidence in the judiciary, alleging that many Nigerians no longer viewed the courts as sufficiently independent to resolve politically sensitive electoral disputes.
He urged the authorities to prevent irregularities rather than rely on post-election litigation.
He further accused INEC of failing to meet the statutory requirement for publishing the voters’ register at least 90 days before the election, citing Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, as amended.
He called on the commission to clarify its compliance with the provision.
Frank also appealed to the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and other international partners to engage the Nigerian government and INEC ahead of the polls to ensure transparency, credible voter registration and a peaceful electoral process.
He specifically urged Washington to draw on its diplomatic role during the 2015 elections to encourage credible polls in 2027.
