ABUJA/Nigeria: Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has issued a scathing condemnation of Senegal’s President Macky Sall, labeling his decision to unilaterally postpone the presidential election as both illegal and undemocratic.
President Sall recently announced the indefinite postponement of Senegal’s presidential election, originally slated for February 25. In a surprising move, Senegal’s National Assembly swiftly accepted the delay and passed a bill establishing a new election date set for December 15.
Expressing his outrage in a statement released in Abuja, Frank accused President Sall of orchestrating a coup against Senegal’s constitution, which he swore to uphold. He characterized the action as a grave injustice to the people of Senegal and a threat to democracy in the West African subregion.
Frank asserted that Sall’s collaboration with the National Assembly to extend his tenure through unconstitutional means is a blatant violation of democratic principles. He emphasized that Sall’s actions undermine his previous pledge not to seek another term in office.
Moreover, Frank highlighted concerning indicators of authoritarianism in Senegal, such as the restriction of mobile internet access and the suppression of media freedom through license revocations. He described these as alarming signs of Sall’s descent into corruption and dictatorship.
Describing the parliamentary process endorsing Sall’s decision as chaotic and coercive, Frank pointed out that opposition lawmakers were forcefully ejected from the chamber by government security forces. He criticized the adoption of the election delay bill, which effectively extends Sall’s tenure until the new election date in December, as an illegal maneuver to prolong his stay in power.
As the ULMWP Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, Frank called upon the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to intervene urgently. He urged ECOWAS leaders, including the Chairman and President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, to exert pressure on Sall to reverse his unconstitutional decision and uphold Senegal’s electoral schedule.
Frank warned against the potential consequences of allowing Sall’s power grab to succeed, citing recent coups in neighboring countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. He emphasized the need for decisive international action, urging the United Kingdom, United States, and the European Union to impose visa bans on Sall if he persists in undermining democracy in Senegal.
In conclusion, Frank called for concerted efforts to safeguard Senegal’s democratic process and prevent Sall from plunging the country into crisis or inviting military intervention.
