January 24, 2019
Ahead of Nigeria’s 2019 general elections, both the United States of America and the United Kingdom have threatened to punish
According to the statements, which were made available to PREMIUM TIMES through the communications unit of the U.S. embassy, the two countries commended the political parties for signing the peace accord and urged the candidates to conduct themselves within the laws governing the elections.
The U.S. statement reads in part; “The United States government does not support any specific candidate or party in Nigeria’s upcoming elections. The United States supports the Nigerian democratic process itself. We support a genuinely free, fair, transparent, and peaceful electoral process.
“We, and other democratic nations, will be paying close attention to actions of individuals who interfere in the democratic process or instigate violence against the civilian population before, during, or after the elections. We will not hesitate to consider consequences – including visa restrictions – for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process. Under U.S. immigration law, certain violations may also lead to restrictions on family members.”
Meanwhile Punch reports that, opposition political parties on the platform of the Coalition of Political Parties welcomed the decision of the UK and the US.
The coalition’s first national spokesperson, Imo Ugochinyere, stated this in a statement in Abuja.
While lauding the foreign governments for their decision, Ugochinyere described them as the true gatekeepers of democracy.
He said, “We, the opposition parties, are in full support of this decision by the UK and the USA, the true gatekeepers of democracy.
“On Monday, we will be releasing a list of 15 Buhari/APC associates involved in pre-election crisis.
“This statement from the UK and the US couldn’t have come at a better time. We have on many occasions reiterated the need for this visa ban on perpetrators of election violence and we are glad that finally, it is going to happen.
