U.S. slams visa ban on Nigerians over violence, manipulation of 2023 polls

More than two months after the 2023 Nigeria’s presidential, governorship and parliamentary elections being contested in court as largely flawed, the United States on Monday announced that it had taken steps to impose visa bans on persons who disrupted the recent general elections in the country.

U.S Secretary of State, Antony John Blinken, said in a statement on the State Department website 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.

He 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.”

“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.”

According to Blinken, the visa restrictions become imperative as a pointer to the continued commitment of the United States to support Nigerian aspirations to strengthen democracy and the rule of law.

However, the US did not name the Nigerians affected by the latest visa ban although some Nigerians including controversial Lagos State Park and Garages Coordinator and ex-State Road Transport Union boss, Musiliu Akinsanya, a.k.a MC Oluomo, were caught in a video threatening violence against an ethnic group in the state in the build up to the elections.

Persecondnews recalls that the February 25 and March 11 polls were marred by rigging, voter intimidation, ethnic profiling and bathing as well as killings particularly in Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, Southsouth and Southeast states.

The All Progressiives Congress candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has been declared the president-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and he is due to be inaugurated on May 29.

Two main challengers, PDP’s Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi are currently at the Presidential Elections Tribunal, seeking the nullification of the results.