FG laments visa ban on electoral offenders by the US
The Nigerian government has said it considers it disrespectful to the sovereignty of the country for any government outside the country to apply punitive measures such as visas restriction on its citizens.
This was according to a statement by the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ferdinand Nwonye on Friday in Abuja, NAN reports.
He made it known that the federal government is committed to providing all necessary logistic, financial and security support to the electoral process adding that the President has continually urged all parties and contestants to peacefully conduct themselves before, during and after elections.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to state that the Nigerian government has taken note of the concerns of some of our partners, especially the U.S. and UK governments regarding the elections in Edo and Ondo States.
“They have also expressed their intentions to take punitive measures against those who decide to, in what they termed as, undermine democracy.
“It is important to highlight 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.
“The President has continually urged all parties and contestants to peacefully conduct themselves before, during and after the elections, and supported patriotic non-governmental initiatives such as the Abdusalami Abubakar-led Peace Committee.
“Furthermore, it should be noted that there are ample provisions in our laws to sanction violators and perpetrators of electoral violence and fraud.
“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.
“While we appreciate the support and encouragement of our international partners such as the EU, we urge our equally valued partners such as the UK and U.S. to cooperate with our relevant agencies,” the statement said.
Better
Logistic, Financial And Security Support To The Electoral Process Adding That The President Has Continually Urged All Parties And Contestants To Peacefully Conduct Themselves Before, During And After Election.why the sudden offender.
Election should be free and fair also not a do or die affair they must not impose ban before you comport yourself.
If government of UK and US applied punitive measures such as visa restrictions to election offenders it’s a welcome development. Why are you denying us with our right which is freedom to elect whoever we want. Infact it’s a welcome development.
pls they should do more of it
Why all these Lamentations from these people? If you didn’t do anything wrong you don’t need to be scared of the policy. Even, if possible they should extend it to those security agencies that use to compromise during the election period.
What do they expect when they seek their consent and support for every decision,they should not be surprised.
True talk.
I don’t think if there will be Electoral violence in this election. It will be free and fair Election
Why are they lamenting? I wish other countries like Dubai, will follow soot
That is because the particular citizen are corrupt to the core and they need to varnish from there own country
No need to fume.Buhari’s government gave them reasons to disrespect our sovereignty.Infact,they should pronounce more stricter measures against Nigerian government for the irresponsible and bias handling of killer Fulani herdsmen invasion of our ancestral lands,killing our people recklessly without effort by Buhari to halt situation
You people have not seen anything yet, how i wish that they can do more than that sef i will be happier than I am now. Election is meant to be free and fair, and not a do or die affair, so they should not lament and stop rigging elections.
Why should you hide under country sovereignty to be doing things the wrong way and manner
If you have decided not to be doing things the way they are supposed to be done, may be because you know you can buy over the agencies saddled with the responsibility of carrying out such activities, then the developed world should give you sanctions especially ban you outrightly from coming to their land because you can come there and corrupt their own citizens
Why the complaints
I pray it work because we are really tried of electoral violence,we need free and fair election.
The president who said Nigeria will be ungovernable if he doesn’t win the election is now telling fellow politicians to conduct themselves during election. What a world!