Visa Ban: Don’t Disrespect Nigeria, FG Blasts US, UK

The Federal Government has expressed its disappointment with the United States and  United Kingdom over statements issued on the governorship elections holding in Edo State on Saturday and Ondo State on October 10.

Further, the FG expressed concern over the visa restrictions imposed by the US on unnamed politicians.

The US & UK had placed a visa restriction on the alleged involvement in electoral violence during the Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship polls.

Likewise the countries vowed sanctions on anyone who perpetrated violence during the Edo and Ondo elections.

They added that they woul impose visa restrictions and block them from accessing their assets and prosecuting them under international law.

Reacting however to the comments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said that it had taken note of their concerns regarding the elections in Edo and Ondo.

It reiterated appeal made by President Muhammadu Buhari, urging parties and contestants to peacefully conduct themselves before, during, and after the elections.

In the statement which was signed by the MFA spokesman, Ferdinand Nwonye, Buhari also supported patriotic non-governmental initiatives such as the Abdusalami Abubakar Peace Committee.

Also, it noted that ample provisions have been made available in the nation’s laws to sanction violators and perpetrators of electoral violence and fraud.

It however urged the UK and US to cooperate with the relevant agencies by providing them concrete evidence of observed misconduct “to allow our laws and regulations to take their course.”

The statement added, “It would be considered disrespectful of the sovereignty of Nigeria for any outside authority to sit in judgment over the conduct of our citizens and apply punitive measures such as visa restriction, unilaterally.”

The FG further highlighted that the responsibility for the conduct of elections in Nigeria solely resides with the Independent National Electoral Commission and State Independent Electoral Commissions.

“The Federal Government, and especially the President, is committed to providing all necessary logistic, financial, and security support to the electoral process.

While we appreciate the support and encouragement of our international partners such as the European Union, we urge our equally valued partners such as the UK and US to cooperate with our relevant agencies by providing them whatever concrete evidence of observed misconduct to allow our laws and regulations to take their course,” the government stated.