Visa restrictions : CISLAC applauds U.S Government, urges others to follow suit

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has hailed the recent historic move by the United State Government with resultant Visa restrictions on electoral-related violence, primarily to restore fairness, credibility and transparency in Nigeria’s electoral processes.

The CSO said it recognized the remarkable development as restoration of fast-eroding democratic principles and core values in the nation’s electoral processes, dominated by decades of unchecked violence, vote buying and ballot lootings.

The commendation came in a statement issued by Executive Director, CISLAC Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) on Tuesday and made available to reporters.

Read Also:MDCAN demands payment of outstanding COVID-19 allowances for health workers(Opens in a new browser tab)

‘’We express total support for the new policy, which has validated the years of persistent demands by Civil Society, Human Rights and Anti-corruption activists for stringent international measures to discourage electoral violence that paves way for electoral fraud and undermines democratic principles in Nigeria ,’’said the statement.

‘’We are not unaware of lack of political will at all levels of government to address electoral violence, in spite of the existence of laws and reports from several Panels and Commissions, with recommendations.’’

‘’We also welcome the pronouncement by the United State Government in anticipation of respect for sanity and sanctity of rules of law in the run up to the September and October 2020 Edo and Ondo State elections, and beyond.’’

‘’We therefore, call on British and other Governments to follow suit in the imposition of Visa restrictions to discourage electoral offenders from using their respective countries as alternatives in harbouring electoral crimes. ‘’