Extend Visa Ban To Election Riggers In South East- SECG Tells U.S

BY RALPH EJIMKONYE

The South East Coalition For Good Governance, SECG has advised the United States to include politicians from the South East zone who rigged elections in 2019 among those it imposed a visa ban recently.

The SECG, in a statement signed by Fidelis Ukandu, President of the Coalition, said the U.S should reflect on the 2019 elections conducted in the South East, particularly the governorship elections, which were highly compromised by politicians in collaboration with INEC officials

“While we commend the United States for imposing visa ban on some Nigerian politicians who rigged elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states, we call on the U.S to look towards the South East States and also impose similar ban on those politicians who rigged elections, especially governorship elections in the South East.

The SECG noted that governorship elections in the South East in 2019 were highly manipulated, some of which did not meet the expectations or reflected the wishes of the people who voted their choices during the elections.

“Such visa ban is a welcome development. It shows the U.S is truly committed to strengthening democracy in our land, but they need to go extra mile by looking reviewing elections held in the South East zone in 2019 which was largely compromised by politicians in the region.

Recall that the U.S on Monday imposed a visa ban on politicians who compromised elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States.

Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson for the Department of State, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

“In July 2019, we announced the imposition of visa restrictions on Nigerians who undermined the February and March 2019 elections. “Today, the Secretary of State is imposing additional visa restrictions on individuals for their actions surrounding the November 2019 Kogi and Bayelsa State elections and in the run up to the September and October 2020 Edo and Ondo State elections,” the statement read in part

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