The United States (US) Government, on Wednesday, January 25, declared that people involved in undermining the electoral process in Nigeria will be slapped with visa restrictions.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a tweet, said his country supports Nigeria’s democratic process and desire to uphold the rule of law.
“To support Nigeria’s upcoming elections; today I am announcing visa restrictions for those involved in undermining democracy in Nigeria.
“The United States supports Nigerian aspirations to combat corruption and strengthen democracy; and the rule of law,” Blinken said.
The US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria, in a statement shared on its website, said the visa restrictions are specific to “certain individuals;” and are not directed at the Nigerian people or the Government of Nigeria.
Also Read: Father Mbaka predicts foreign doctors will run to Nigeria for jobs soon
“Under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act; these individuals will be found ineligible for visas to the United States under a policy to restrict visas of those believed to be responsible for; or complicit in, undermining democracy in Nigeria.
“Certain family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions. Additional persons who undermine the democratic process in Nigeria; including in the lead-up to, during; and following Nigeria’s 2023 elections—may be found ineligible for U.S. visas under this policy,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), respectively, have come under covert attack from the former minister of education Obiageli Ezekwesili, who claims that both are fixated on Peter Obi, the LP candidate.
Ezekwesili posted the comment on her verified Twitter account on Wednesday, January 25.
She referred to the PDP and APC as the terrible governance siamese twins.
Ezekwesili wrote; “The Chinese saying “What you are doing is so loud that; I cannot hear what you are saying” is what comes to mind every time I see members of the Siamese Twins Of Bad Governance obsessing over the Presidential Candidate of Labor Party whom they say cannot win. Leave him naa.”
The former minister, also known as “madam due process”; further advised Atiku and Tinubu to leave Obi alone since they said he couldn’t win.
