The President Joe Biden-led United States government has imposed entry restrictions on more Nigerians for undermining the democratic process during the nation’s 2023 election cycle.
This development was disclosed in a Twitter statement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
In the statement, he wrote “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”.
However, Blinken did not provide additional details, leaving the populace especially Nigerians to wonder who the affected persons are.
But, in a shocking move, Blinken, recently called President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and emphasized his continued commitment to further strengthening the U.S.-Nigeria relationship with the incoming administration.
This is especially shocking due to the allegations that the ruling All Progressive Congress rigged the election in favor of its candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Reacting to the call, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in a Twitter statement wrote “I am in disbelief that @SecBlinken called Tinubu, a contradiction to the publicly stated position of the US on Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election. This is inconceivable considering that America, as the bastion of democracy, is well briefed on the sham election of February 25. To give legitimacy to the widely acknowledged fraudulent election in Nigeria can be demoralising to citizens who have hedged their bet on democracy and the sanctity of the ballot @StateDept @POTUS @USinNigeria”.
The ban is the latest in a series of visa restrictions imposed on Nigerian individuals in recent years.
The nation’s election tribunal has begun hearing opposition petitions challenging president-elect Bola Tinubu’s victory in the disputed February presidential vote.
Tinubu defeated his closest rivals Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party and the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who have alleged fraud and have launched a court challenge.
Atiku and Obi want the tribunal to invalidate Tinubu’s victory, arguing that the vote was fraught with irregularities, among other criticisms. However, Tinubu, who is set to be sworn in on May 29, has maintained that he won fairly and wants the petitions dismissed.
