The U.S. State Department on Tuesday announced it had imposed visa restrictions on Nigerians it said were involved in trying to undermine democracy in presidential and parliamentary elections this year.
President Muhammadu Buhari won a second term in office in February in an election characterized by logistical problems, violence and killings. with many opposition political parties alleging collusion of Independent National Electoral Commission with the ruling All progressives Congress to compromise the integrity of the election.
The department, however, did not list the names of the individuals or say how many were affected by the visa ban, but it clearly pointed out that it was for those who undermined the process.
Morgan Ortagus, spokeswoman of the department said: “These individuals have operated with impunity at the expense of the Nigerian people and undermined democratic principles and human rights.
“The Department of State emphasises that the actions announced today are specific to certain individuals and not directed at the Nigerian people or the newly elected government,” Ortagus added.
