Former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, has cautioned Nigeria’s electoral and democratic institutions against actions that could spark mass protests similar to those recently witnessed in Nepal.

Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, Frank accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary, and security agencies of undermining democracy through partisanship and compromise. He warned that if these institutions fail to act with integrity in the run-up to the 2027 elections, Nigeria risks slipping into violent unrest.

Frank urged INEC to initiate bold reforms ahead of the polls, including electronic transmission of results and the removal of officials aligned with the ruling party. He also called for the appointment of a new INEC chairman to succeed Mahmood Yakubu, insisting that only someone with proven credibility can restore public trust.

Commending the commission for recognizing the David Mark-led African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership and approving 14 new political associations, Frank said such steps were encouraging but not enough. He criticized recent by-elections, describing them as riddled with “deliberate lapses” that further eroded voters’ confidence in INEC.

“The credibility of Nigeria’s democracy depends on the courage and neutrality of our institutions. Without that, the country could face protests far worse than Nepal’s,” Frank warned.

He also accused the ruling APC of targeting opposition figures, citing incidents involving Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, and Labour Party’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour. He urged security agencies to end their “role in election rigging” and focus instead on protecting voters and preventing violence.

On the judiciary, Frank emphasized the need for impartiality, vowing that Nigerians would closely monitor judges handling electoral disputes. “Justice must not only be done but be seen to be done,” he stressed.

The activist, who doubles as ambassador of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) to East Africa and the Middle East, appealed to Nigerians to register, vote, and be prepared to defend their votes in 2027.

Frank also sought international support, urging U.S. President Donald Trump and other global leaders to pressure the Nigerian government to adopt genuine electoral reforms and impose sanctions on compromised officials.

He concluded by warning that unless institutions uphold their mandates and reforms are prioritized, Nigeria’s fragile democracy could be thrown into instability similar to the #EndSARS protests but on a much larger scale.