US Imposes Visa Restrictions On Specific Nigerians For Undermining Democracy

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The United States government has imposed a visa ban on specific Nigerians for undermining the democratic process during Nigeria's 2023 elections cycle.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted on Monday, revealing that the government has "imposed visa restrictions on specific individuals who undermined the democratic process during Nigeria's 2023 elections."

He continued, "We remain committed to supporting Nigerian aspirations to strengthen democracy and the rule of law."

We have imposed visa restrictions on specific individuals who undermined the democratic process during Nigeria’s 2023 elections. We remain committed to supporting Nigerian aspirations to strengthen democracy and rule of law. — Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 15, 2023

Blinken also issued a statement on the U.S. Department of State's official website, noting that the country is "committed to supporting and advancing democracy" not only in Nigeria but across the globe.

"We have taken steps to impose visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process during Nigeria's 2023 elections cycle," he said. "These actions are specific to certain individuals and are not directed at the Nigerian people or the Government of Nigeria as a whole."

Blinken added in the statement, "Under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, these individuals will be subject to restrictions on visas to the United States under a policy covering those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy."

He further explained that these individuals have been involved in the "intimidation of voters through threats and physical violence, the manipulation of vote results, and other activity that undermines Nigeria's democratic process."

"The decision to take steps to impose visa restrictions reflects the continued commitment of the United States to support Nigerian aspirations to strengthen democracy and the rule of law," he concluded the statement.

APC's Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the election with 8,794,726 votes while Labour Party (LP)'s presidential candidate, Peter Obi came third as he secured 6,101,533 votes. People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar, who was also running for the presidential election, got 6,984,520 votes.

Following the election results, Obi filed a petition to challenge Tinubu's victory, noting that the election was not fair and there were several irregularities.

In fact, during the local government elections held in March, APC campaign coordinator, Chisom Lennard, who was kidnapped on gubernatorial election day, was found dead later. PDP Chairman Peter Nweke was attacked by thugs in Ebonyi State and later he was also announced dead.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is responsible for overseeing Nigerian elections, confirmed that the thugs invaded the Obingwa Local Government Area office.

Thugs have invaded our Obingwa Local Government Area office in Abia State.

Security agencies have been alerted. The Commission is monitoring the situation and will issue a statement shortly. — INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) March 19, 2023

Considering Blinken's tweet regarding the visa restrictions, many social media users demanded the State Secretary disclose the list of people who got restricted.

We have the list of Russians affected by bans due to the Ukraine invasion, let’s have the list of Nigerians affected by this ban. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. — ellech (@speakingthruths) May 15, 2023

Some users also noted that if the president-elect Tinubu or his party people are seen anywhere in the United States, then they would not consider this as a real ban.

If we ever see any of the following in the US, then this ban isn’t real.

Meanwhile our respected Patriot @DeleFarotimi has a message for you. Do listen.pic.twitter.com/Alm2LgGcKZ — Well-Meaning NIGERIAN™ (@a_little_god_) May 15, 2023

Tinubu left Nigeria last week, just 19 days ahead of his inauguration, which is supposed to be held on May 29. His media aide revealed that the president-elect went to Europe on a working visit to meet investors and other key allies to seek investment opportunities for the country.

cewop93668 on May 16th, 2023 at 14:34 UTC »

Good. We need to punish people who undermine democracy and freedom and human rights. The question is why are other countries like Europe, Japan, India, Korea, Australia, etc., not following suit?

Hidden-Syndicate on May 16th, 2023 at 10:47 UTC »

Many commenters are asking if the US realizes this pushes countries that already have authoritarian tendencies further into China’s sphere but they fail to understand that this isn’t the 1990s or early 2000s anymore. The US doesn’t need good trading relations with the entire world and the US is happy to part ways with those seen to be undermining their goals and ideologies, including entire nations if applicable. It’s not a right to trade with the US, they view it as a privilege.

These individuals had visa restrictions placed on them… it’s not like the US alerted The Hague to be on the look out.

chowieuk on May 16th, 2023 at 09:12 UTC »

They have to realise that the more they do this the more they're trashing their reputation and credibility with the global south right?

The rest of the world does in fact have access to the internet and american media. They can see that the former president who led an insurrection is now set to run again having faced no consequences. They can see that the US judicial system is a partisan, corrupt joke. They can see that schools across the country are banning books left, right and centre. They can see that texas has bounty hunters hunting abortionists. They can see the widespread gerrymandering of political maps and systems. They can see how the entire political class is captured by corporate interests and refuses to actually put in place consumer protections for the electorate itself. To put in extremely generously, American 'democracy' is in complete shambles.

It's like the US govt tries to impose on other countries what they'd like to do at home. Except they can't do it at home so it has zero credibility when they enforce it on others. The recent Ugandan anti-LGBT laws had a lot to do with the support of US christian fundamentalists...... who gets punished? Uganda