The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has backed the recent visa ban imposed on some Nigerians by the United States.
In a statement on Wednesday, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken announced a visa ban on Nigerians accused of undermining democracy and engaging in election fraud.
He clarified that the visa restriction was not targeted at the Nigerian people or the government, noting that this was part of the action to advance democracy and tackle corruption in the country.
Blinken said that the sanctioned individuals, whose names he did not reveal, and some of their family members would be ineligible for the US visa.
He said, ”We are committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Nigeria and around the world. Today, I am announcing visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process in a recent Nigerian election.
‘’Under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, these individuals will be found ineligible for visas to the United States under a policy to restrict visas of those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Nigeria.
‘’Certain family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions. Additional persons who undermine the democratic process in Nigeria—including in the lead-up to, during, and following Nigeria’s 2023 elections—may be found ineligible for U.S. visas under this policy.’’
Reacting via his Twitter page on Wednesday, Atiku threw his weight behind the decision, urging other “established democracies” to join the US in placing a visa ban on election riggers in Nigeria.
“I welcome the United States visa ban on anti-democratic elements whose actions seek to undermine the 2023 elections in Nigeria.
“I encourage other established democracies to follow suit to ensure that there’s no hiding place for the enemies of our democracy,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Atiku’s wife Titi Abubakar has revealed why Nigerians should vote for her husband in the 2023 general election.
