U.S visa ban further proof of global rejection of 2023 polls – CSOs, demand disclosure of affected persons

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the country have hailed Monday’s decision by the United States Government to impose visa restrictions on some Nigerians alleged to have aided anti-democratic practices during the just-concluded general elections in Nigeria.

This is just as the CSOs asked the U.S government to also disclosed the identities of the affected persons in the country, as they further claimed that the ban only supports global claims that the 2023 election in Nigeria was flawed.

U.S Secretary of State, Mr Antony Blinken, had Monday, released a statement announcing visa restrictions on selected Nigerians said to have disrupted the 2023 elections in the country through their acts ranging from ‘intimidation of voters through threats and physical violence, the manipulation of vote results, and other activity that undermines Nigeria’s democratic process.’

The U.S statement titled; “Taking Steps to Impose Visa Restrictions on Individuals Involved in Undermining the Democratic Process During Nigeria’s 2023 Elections Cycle,” is also seen as fulfillment of an earlier promise by the U.S government back in March, this year, when it threatened to impose visa restrictions, among others on those who disrupt the democratic process in the country in the elections.

“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 actions are specific to certain individuals and are not directed at the Nigerian people or the Government of Nigeria as a whole.

“Under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, these individuals 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.

“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,” Blinken said, Monday.

Reacting, to the U.S decision, the America-based non-partisan Nigerian American Coalition for Justice and Democracy (NACJD) said with the visa ban ‘the world has now taken side with the Nigerian people.’

The group which earlier disclosed that it submitted a list containing about 100 Nigerians accused of committing electoral offences to the United States Government, said the action announced by the U.S Secretary of State ‘is just the first step and also more significantly confirms to the global community that the Nigerian 2023 General Elections were rigged.’

The group further disclosed that it submitted the names of electoral offenders to the U.S State Department during the April 3rd 2023, White House and US Congress protest in Washington DC.

“This Visa Ban is just the first step and also more significantly confirms to the global community that the Nigerian 2023 General Elections Were rigged and Bola Tinubu has lost all Global acceptance and Legitimacy. The world has now taken side with the Nigerian people,” the group said.

It would be recalled that the NACJD had during a well attended World Press Conference at the National Press Club in Washington DC called to demand that the votes of Nigerians at the 2023 elections count. The group also demanded sanctions on those identified as enemies of Nigerian democracy.

Commenting, secretary of the organization Mr Chijike Ndukwu unveiled a list of over 100 names that had been recommended to the US States Department, the US Congress and the White House for visa ban and other sanctions. 

The list is said to contain the names of some state governors, Independent National Electoral Commissioners (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), Commissioners, All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains, and others.

It is however, not yet known if the U.S government acted on group’s list in slamming the visa ban on selected Nigerians.

Further reacting to the U.S action, the Chief Executive Officer of a civil society organisation in the country, the Connected Development (CODE), Hamzat Lawal, has demanded full disclosure of the names of the affected offenders listed in the visa ban.

Speaking while featuring as guest on Channels Television programme, Monday, Lawal said exposing the identities of the culprits connotes a greater deal of transparency and sends a signal that actions have consequences.

“If they had named these names, then the Nigerian people can actually also know that even if our government and some institutions are not acting, the international community are watching and have acted, particularly the American government.

“We should know (their names), so that as civil society, what we’ll now do is inaugurate them in the hall of shame.

“I think it would have gone a long way. Yes, I can understand that the judicial process is ongoing and maybe they are not publishing these names so they don’t interfere with that process, but I think that they owe it to the Nigerian people who are their friends and partners.

“We saw private citizens, we saw former lawmakers, we saw, even, law enforcement agencies that are saddled with the responsibility to ensure peace and stability in the country who colluded with corrupt politicians and mischief-makers.

“The visa ban is a right step that will lead to other steps by the American government,” Lawal said.