As it did after the 2019 general election in Nigeria, the United States on Monday announced that it had taken steps to impose visa bans on persons who disrupted the recent general elections in Nigeria.
But short of expectations, the names of those affected by the ban were not disclosed. This was also the case of the so called 2019 visa ban by the US
In a statement on the US State Department website, Secretary of State Antony Binken said “the United States is committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Nigeria and around the world.
“Today, I am announcing that we have taken steps to impose visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process during Nigeria’s 2023 elections cycle.”
He noted that the visa ban is specific to certain individuals and is not directed at the Nigerian people or the Government of Nigeria as a whole.
According to the statement, these individuals, under US Immigration and Nationality Act, will be subject to restrictions on visas to the United States under a policy covering those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy.
“These individuals have been involved in intimidation of voters through threats and physical violence, the manipulation of vote results, and other activity that undermines Nigeria’s democratic process,” Mr Blinken said.
He said that the decision to take steps to impose visa restrictions, reflects the continued commitment of the United States to support Nigerian aspirations to strengthen democracy and the rule of law.
Nationwide Reports recalls that the US government also imposed ban on “Certain individuals” after the 2019 general election in Nigeria but like this time, did not disclose the name of the affected political actors.
From 2019 till date, no Nigerian known Nigerian politician was prevented from traveling to the US on the bases of the ban, thereby making the so called ban an exercise on paper.
During the February 25 presidential election, many politicians were reported to have carried out violence, intimidation and other acts, including hate speech that were seen as inimical to free and fair electoral process for which some actors were reported to the National Human Rights Commission,NHRC which is currently investigating the allegations.
According to records available at the NHRC headquarters in Abuja, those mentioned by petitioners include Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state, MC Oluomo, a political ally of President-elect, Bola Tinubu and Bayo Odunuga, an APC spokesman and many others.