UK start compiling list of Nigerian politicians likely to face a visa ban over electoral malpractices

BRITAIN'S minister of state for development and Africa Andrew Mitchell has begun compiling a list of Nigerian politicians engaged in electoral malpractices with a view to imposing travel and visa bans on them.

Way back in 2020, the US government imposed visa restrictions on several politicians who masterminded violence and rigging of the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States. With the Edo and Ondo State gubernatorial elections then approaching, the UK followed this up with a threat to impose visa restrictions on any officials involved in election irregularities.

In the run-up to this year's general elections, the UK had revealed that it would impose visa bans on anyone found guilty of electoral malpractices. With numerous complaints about the conduct of the elections, the British high commission in Nigeria has announced that Mr Mitchell is prepared to take action against those who engaged in or incited electoral violence during the polls.

According to the mission, the UK was already collating names of perpetrators and would impose sanctions, including preventing people from obtaining UK visas. There may be further punishment awaiting anyone found guilty, including sanctions under the UK's human rights regime.

A high commission spokesman said: “We can confirm that we are collating relevant information, with a view to taking action against some individuals. There were notable points of concern as members of our observation mission personally observed violence and voter suppression in numerous voting locations.

"We witnessed and received credible reports from other observer missions and civil society organisations of vote buying and voter intimidation, the destruction and hijacking of election materials and the general disruption of the process in numerous states including Lagos, Enugu and Rivers. In addition, we observed incidents of harassment of journalists.

"Freedom of speech and a free press is crucial for a healthy democracy and journalists must be able to go about their work without being threatened. The UK is also concerned by the use of inflammatory ethno-religious language by some public and political figures.

"We call on all leaders not just to distance themselves from this kind of language but to prevent those who speak on their behalf from doing so in this way. It is a testament to their commitment to democracy that many Nigerians were prepared to vote despite being faced with intimidation and hostility.”