Timi Frank Blasts Africa’s “Sham Elections”, Says Rigged Polls In Tanzania, Cameroon, Ivory Coast Are A Tragedy For Democracy
By ANITA KNIGHT
ACROSS Africa, the echo of drums that once signified freedom and independence is being drowned out by the sound of stolen votes and silenced voices. Political activist Timi Frank, Nigeria’s former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has once again raised a moral alarm — this time over what he calls the “death of democracy” in Tanzania, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast.
In a fiery statement that reads more like a manifesto for Africa’s democratic rebirth than a press release, Frank dismissed the recent elections in the three countries as “a disgrace and a sham.” For him, what took place was not democracy but a performance — a choreographed illusion designed to legitimise authoritarianism.
“What we saw were not elections but selections,” he said. “A theatre of manipulation, intimidation, and political terrorism.”
🗳️ The Politics of Power Without Legitimacy
Frank’s critique cuts to the heart of a painful African reality: in too many nations, elections are mere rituals, not reflections of the people’s will. From Paul Biya’s long shadow in Cameroon to Alassane Ouattara’s third-term controversy in Ivory Coast, and Tanzania’s clampdown on opposition voices, the activist argues that the continent is sliding backwards — fast.
“Instead of building trust through transparent polls,” he lamented, “leaders are perfecting the art of stealing power while calling it democracy.”
To him, this erosion of legitimacy is more than just a political problem — it’s a continental crisis threatening Africa’s stability. Frank warned that the “systematic rigging” of elections could soon ignite a wave of civil unrest and coups, as seen in parts of West and Central Africa.
🌍 A Call to the World — and to Conscience
Frank didn’t stop at condemnation. He called on the United Nations, United States, and European Union to stop recognising or congratulating governments birthed through electoral fraud. He urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold leaders accountable for electoral violence and civilian deaths during recent polls.
“Those who destroy democracy should not enjoy the privileges of legitimacy,” he argued. “The world must act before Africa descends into chaos.”
His call echoes the growing frustration among African civil society and the diaspora, who see Western diplomacy’s silence as complicity. For Frank, sanctions — not handshakes — should greet leaders who win elections through deceit.
🕊️ Betrayal of the Founding Fathers’ Dream
Frank’s message is steeped in historical disappointment. He invoked the memory of Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Nelson Mandela, Thomas Sankara, Patrice Lumumba, Modibo Keita, and Haile Selassie, lamenting how Africa’s current leaders have betrayed their vision.
“The Africa we see today is not the one our heroes fought for,” he said. “Their dream of unity, one currency, and one passport has been replaced by selfishness and greed.”
In his view, the continent’s liberation has been hijacked by a new elite — one that trades ideals for power and public trust for personal gain.
👊 Africa’s Youth: The Last Line of Defence
Frank reserved his strongest appeal for African youths, urging them to become guardians of democracy.
“Those who have died defending their votes are heroes,” he declared. “The young generation must not surrender to oppression.”
He praised the courage of Tanzanian citizens who have taken to the streets to protest a compromised electoral process, warning that “the world must pay attention” before anger turns to anarchy.
🇳🇬 Nigeria Must Not Follow the Same Path
Turning his attention homeward, Frank issued a stark warning to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Nigeria must not become the next case study in electoral failure,” he said. “Any attempt to subvert the people’s will will be resisted. Nigerians are no longer asleep.”
He called for electoral transparency, institutional independence, and the courage to challenge entrenched interests — not through violence, but through civic determination.
⚖️ The Verdict: Democracy at a Crossroads
Timi Frank’s words are not new, but their urgency feels fresh. They speak to a growing anxiety that democracy in Africa is at risk of becoming a hollow brand — a logo worn by regimes that fear accountability.
Whether one agrees with his tone or tactics, his message is clear: Africa cannot afford to keep recycling oppression in the name of elections.
If the continent’s leaders will not defend democracy, Frank argues, then its citizens — especially its youth — must.
“The battle for Africa’s future,” he insists, “is no longer between left and right, north and south. It’s between truth and tyranny.”
