UK joins the U.S, declares visa restrictions on election manipulators

Obinwannem News UK joins the U.S, declares visa restrictions on election manipulators

UK joins the U.S, declares visa restrictions on election manipulators

Barely 24 hours after the United States imposed visa restrictions on politicians who masterminded violence and rigging of the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States, the United Kingdom has also declared a ban on any Nigerian complicit in the election manipulations.

The British High Commission in Nigeria, through a statement published on its Twitter handle on Tuesday, said the sanction could include restrictions on their eligibility to travel to the UK, restrictions on access to UK-based assets, or prosecution under international law just as it did after the 2019 elections.

In the statement, Catriona Laing said its focus for the Edo state governorship election was on the need for the parties to prevail on their supporters to avoid violence before, during, and after the elections.

It further said the UK welcomed the signing of a peace accord by the governorship candidates in the state, adding that the commission would be deploying observation missions to both Edo and Ondo polls while supporting civil society-led observation.

“The UK takes a strong stand against election-related violence and just as we did in the general election in 2019, we will continue to take action against individuals we identify as being responsible for violence during elections.

“This could include restrictions on their eligibility to travel to the UK, restrictions on access to UK-based assets or prosecution under international law”.

Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechere reporting, Obinwannem News

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