UK joins US to threaten anti-democratic politicians with visa ban
The United Kingdom government has announced that politicians engaged in or incited electoral violence and other anti-democratic behaviours in Lagos, Rivers and Enugu states in the March 18 governorship and state Assembly elections that were held across the country will likely get a visa ban.
The British High Commission said this in a statement signed by the Senior Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer, Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, on Wednesday adding that it is collating relevant information to take action against such individuals.
This is coming barely 24 hours after the United States government threatened to take all available actions against those who undermined the just-concluded elections in Nigeria.
It read, We witnessed and received credible reports from other observer missions and civil society organisations of vote buying and voter intimidation the destruction and hijacking of election materials and the general disruption of the process in numerous states including Lagos, Enugu and Rivers states.
We can confirm that we are collating relevant information, with a view to taking action against some individuals.
The UK Minister of State for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell MP, said on February 21, that the UK is prepared to take action against those who engage in or incite electoral violence and other anti-democratic behaviours, and action could include preventing people from obtaining UK visas or imposing sanctions under our human rights sanctions regime.
The British Commission commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for improved logistics during the governorship elections, particularly when compared to the presidential election three weeks ago.
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