In response to individuals in Nigeria disrupting the democratic process during the Nigerian elections in 2023, the United States said on Monday that it has taken action to impose visa restrictions on them.
In a statement, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on Monday announced that it had taken steps to impose visa bans on persons who disrupted the recent general elections in Nigeria. According him, neither Nigerians nor the government were the focus of the action.
However, the impacted individuals were not given a name by the Secretary of State.
The decision, Blinken added, is in compliance with Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
“The United States is committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Nigeria and around the world. Today, I am announcing that we have taken steps to impose visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process during Nigeria’s 2023 elections cycle.
“These actions are specific to certain individuals and are not directed at the Nigerian people or the Government of Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
According to Blinken, 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”.
These individuals, he said, were involved in intimidation of voters through threats and physical violence, the manipulation of vote results and others.