PDP wants visa ban for Buhari, family for allegedly subverting people’s will in 2023 polls

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the international community to impose a visa ban and travel restrictions on President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly subverting the will of the people in the 2023 polls.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Debo Ologunagba, a former member of the House of Representatives, who made the call, also took a swipe at Buhari’s comment on Thursday when he received the Progressives Governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Persecondnews reports that Buhari while addressing the governor’s, criticized the tactics of the opposition during the just concluded February 25 presidential election.

President described their approach as “a combination of overconfidence, complacency and bad tactical moves”.

“They (the opposition) were already telling their foreign backers that they would defeat the APC. Our party blended confidence with caution, we worked hard and won,” Buhari had said.

But Ologunaba slammed the President, saying due to the reckless rigging by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the February 25 election is deemed “globally as the worst in the history of our country”.

Ologunaba said:,“We have called you up again today to address the unfortunate, reckless, unpresidential conduct and subjudice comment credited to the President, Muhammadu Buhari which is already causing apprehension and capable of destroying our corporate existence as a nation.

“As you are aware, the February 25, 2023, Presidential election has been adjudged across the nation and globally as the worst in the history of our country.

“The Presidential election was marred by brazen violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2023, INEC Regulations and Guidelines; manipulation of processes, alteration of genuine results from Polling Units, the announcement of fabricated figures and climaxed by the vexatious declaration of the defeated candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as winner.

“The general despondency, resentment and anger across our country; the damning reports by election observers and the pervading international contempt against Nigeria since the declaration of the APC candidate as President-elect are ominous testaments that he does not have the mandate of the majority of Nigerians derivable ONLY from a credible electoral process.

“The PDP is already at the Tribunal with the prospects of reclaiming the mandate freely given to our Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar at the Presidential election.

“Having clearly undermined democracy in Nigeria, the PDP calls on the International Community to accordingly impose sanctions including visa ban and travel restrictions on President Buhari and his family immediately after he vacates office on May 29, 2023.”

Ologunaba added: “This demand for sanction is in line with President Buhari’s request on February 17, 2022, in Brussels, Belgium, wherein he called on the European Union (EU) to impose “weighty sanctions” on those engaged in “unconstitutional change of governments” as well as those influencing the “process and outcomes of elections.”