BY Samuel Akpan
Concerned Nigerians, a pro-democracy group, has commended the United States for imposing visa restrictions on perpetrators of violence and rigging in the Kogi and Bayelsa elections.
The group asked the US to extend the ban to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security officers who undermine the electoral process.
In a statement on Monday, Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state, said the US government imposed a visa ban on some political actors for their role in the violence and irregularities that marred the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections.
He also said action had been taken against some persons in the run-up to the September and October governorship elections in Edo and Ondo.
Deji Adeyanju, convener of the group, in a letter to the US ambassador to Nigeria, said the decision of the US to ban some individuals for their actions in the Kogi and Bayelsa elections will serve as a deterrent to other actors who plan to unleash violence in Edo and Ondo elections.
“It is imperative to note that, this visa ban will send a strong signal to those who are always available to be used by politicians to rig elections, manipulate results and perpetuate violence during elections that actions have consequences, ” the letter read.
“We want to commend the US government for their decisive action in imposing a visa ban on those who took part in manipulating and subverting the will of the people in Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections.”
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