The United States of America has been called to expel Nigerian officials, lawmakers, and other offenders accountable for the violence during yesterday’s February 25 election by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
The group also requested Joe Biden, the president of the United States, to implement asset freezes and property sanctions on anyone suspected of engaging in election violence, intimidation, or harassment as well as to restrict or cancel their visas.
According to reports, charges of electoral violence have been made in a number of states across the nation, including Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Gombe, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Osun, Rivers, and Taraba states, as well as Abuja.
The organisation stated in a letter dated February 25, 2023 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, that the imposition was directed at alleged perpetrators and sponsors of election-related violence in the nation and would foster accountability, put an end to impunity, and discourage human rights violations.
A similar action, according to SERAP, would assist free and fair elections, put an end to further violence, and encourage people to use their right to vote.
The letter, read in part: “The recommended travel bans, asset freezes and property sanctions should also cover anyone who may perpetrate and sponsor violence and human rights crimes during the postponed elections in 141 polling units, and the governorship elections scheduled for March 2023.”
SERAP welcomes your government’s publicly expressed commitment to impose visa restrictions on officials, politicians and other perpetrators and sponsors of election-related intimidation, harassment, and violence. We urge you to include asset freezes and property sanctions on the list.”
“Giving serious consideration to our recommendations and promptly implementing them would give meaning to this commitment, and demonstrate the willingness of your government to support and strengthen democracy, citizens’ participation and the rule of law, as well as end a culture of election-related violence in Nigeria.
“SERAP notes that presidential proclamations 7750 and 8697 underscore the US ‘enduring commitment to respect for human rights and humanitarian law’, which requires that its Government be able to ensure that the US does not become a safe haven for suspected violators of human rights, including election-related intimidation, harassment and violence.
“The proclamations also aim to help the US authorities to secure peace, promote the rule of law, combat crime and corruption, and strengthen democracies around the globe.
Significantly, the presidential proclamations underscore that it is in the interests of the United States to take action to restrict the international travel and to suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or non-immigrants, of certain persons who are suspected to be involved in serious violations of human rights.”
