2023: US To Impose Visa Restrictions On Nigerians Undermining Democracy

 Imposing Visa Restrictions on Individuals Involved in Undermining the Democratic Process in Nigeria

PRESS STATEMENT

ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE

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.

The visa restrictions announced today are specific to certain individuals and are not directed at the Nigerian people or the Government of Nigeria. The decision to impose visa restrictions reflects the commitment of the United States to support Nigerian aspirations to combat corruption and strengthen democracy and the rule of law.

Peter Obi Supporter Climbs Stadium Floodlight In Gombe

 This Gombe man climed stadium floodlight today , show his PVC all for Peter Obi.

The Next President of Nigeria Insha Allah, Mr Peter Obi was in Gombe today for Labour Party Presidential campaign , the crowd that troop out to his there next President was massive .

The one of the most interesting part of this campaign was when a Gombe man climed stadium floodlight and flaunt his PVC for all for Mr Peter Obi. This is organic , the type never seen in the history of Nigerian Presidential campaign 

INEC Chairman Speaks To The BBC About 2023 Elections

 The BBC's Peter Okwoche spoke to INEC's chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu and asked him questions about rumours that the elections will be postponed due to violence in parts of the country, transmission of election results, irregularities in the voters register, allegations of being partial, etc. Here are his answers

Peter Okwoche: How are preparations right now?

Mahmood Yakubu: Preparations are on top gear. 

Election in Nigeria is a huge undertaking. The total number of registered voters for the 2023 general election is 93 million. That is 16.7 more registered voters in Nigeria than the other 14 countries in West Africa put together.

So in other words, an election in Nigeria is like conducting elections for the whole of West Africa and beyond.

So it's huge.

Peter Okwoche: A member of your team, Abdulaziz Zuru who was representing you at an event, said there's a possibility that these elections might be postponed because of the insecurity around the country. Let's hear it from you now, is that the case? Is that a possibilty or what?

Mahmood Yakubu: Yes there's insecurity, but insecurity is perennial. But we are committed to conducting the elections as scheduled. And immediately after that statement was made, the commission made an issued an official statement.

So, to answer your question directly, the 2023 general elections will not be postponed. The commission is not even contemplating adjustment to the timetable. We are good to go for these elections.

Peter Okwoche: Even in places where your facilities have been destroyed, your personnel have been attacked, some have been killed? 

Mahmood Yakubu: We have identified those locations where facilities have been attacked and we have assured Nigerians that we can recover from those attacks.

This year in particular, we have had attacks in a number of places, 11, but these are attacks from which we can recover, so I can't see that as an obstacle to conduct of elections nationwide. We are going to proceed as scheduled.

Peter Okwoche: There have also been complaints about irregularities during voter registration, double registration, underage registration, how are you tackling these? Is it something that you've seen? Is it widespread? 

Mahmood Yakubu: Well, we have a robust system of cleaning up the voters register, using what we call Automated Biometric Identification System. Under the continuous voter registrations that we did for over a period of one year, some 12 million Nigerians were registered, but when we applied our business rules to clean up the data, we dropped 2.7 million out of them. Among them the invalid registrations. The invalid registrants may be those who are not qualified by age, because the minimum age for registration is 18 in Nigeria, or those who are not Nigerian citizens, or deceased persons whose names are on the register, or multiple registrants.

So, we are reasonably confident that we have cleaned up the register. 

However, cleaning up the register is a continuous process.

But I want to say that the voters register in Nigeria is a national treasure. It is simply the largest database of citizens in the country and the largest database of citizens in Africa. 

So we'll continue to clean up the voters register, but the core of the register is solid, where I'm happy with the register.

Peter Okwoche: Major candidates in the elections are already complaining. We had one say the other week that you don't have the capability to transmit the votes once they have voted, to transmit the results electronically to the national database.

Mahmood Yakubu: Well, I don't know who said so, but look at what we have done. We did the pilot in August 2020, at Nasarawa in central Nigeria, when we conducted a bye-election in state constituency and since then we piloted the transmission of results in 105 constituencies nationwide, including major governorship elections. We did it in Anambra, we did it in Ekiti, we did it in Osun, we also did it in the Federal Capital Territory.

Now some of them may be small elections in the Nigerian context, but the state with the least number of registered voters in places where we transmitted election results in Ekiti, is Ekiti. But Ekiti has more registered voters than The Gambia and Cape Verde put together. 

So we are happy with the pilot that we have conducted and we are reasonably confident in the strength of the processes.

Peter Okwoche: Even in rural areas?

Mahmood Yakubu: The machine on election day doesn't rely on Internet to accredit voters. It works offline. 

Now when it comes to transmission of results that's where it needs network, but if there's no network in the immediate vicinity, the scanned image of the polling unit level results, which is taken using the BIVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System), will be transmitted as soon as the staff move from the polling unit to the collation centres. And we have been working with the major telecom companies in Nigeria and we are satisfied that the number of blind spots can be addressed in the country. And the number of blind spots where you have no network is really small.

Peter Okwoche: A lot of people say the elections in 2015 were freer than the elections in 2019. You oversaw the one in 2019 and not 2015 and they say that's because you're close buddies with the government, with the ruling party. How close are you to this APC-led government?

Mahmood Yakubu: That's just an allegation. People always say so of all electoral commissions, including electoral commissions in Nigeria and other countries as well, the usual accusations.

But look at the kind of elections we have been conducting of late. Different political parties have won different elections and citizens believe that the votes are counting and will continue to count and they are confident in the process.

So my assurance to the citizens is that we'll continue to do what is necessary to ensure that we protect the integrity of the process.

As I said, our allegiance is to the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not to any political party or any political actor.

Garba Shehu To Yakasai: Buhari's Support For Bola Tinubu Is Unquestionable

 ON ALHAJI TANKO YAKASAI’S QUESTIONING OF THE PRESIDENT’S SUPPORT OF APC AT THE FORTHCOMING ELECTION.

"Alhaji Tanko Yakasai is unknown to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Everyone is entitled to their view, but what we do know is that his insight in a recent interview does not come from within the party or the President’s team. His support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is welcome although it is difficult to see what value it will add.

"He is right to highlight his experience as a senior citizen, a leader in government and ability to reach out across divides are strong foundations for the highest office.

"But Yakasai’s questioning of the loyalties of President Muhammadu Buhari stands in sharp contrast to the actions of the President. Only on Monday, he was out at a rally in Bauchi supporting the flag bearer of the party. Presidential duties permitting, he is scheduled to make further appearances at campaign events in the coming weeks.

''His support for the party’s candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is unquestioned.

"If this wasn't on TV, Yakasai's unwise comment on the issue would have been dismissed as a misquotation. But he was live on TV.

"On this one against President Buhari, no one should take him seriously.

"Perhaps times are hard and the old man needs a bit of help."

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
January 25, 2023

Plans To Scuttle Election Via New Naira Notes, Fuel Scarcity Exposed - FFK

 Whatever your plans are to scuttle this election, whether through new naira notes, fuel scarcity or creating an atmosphere of fear & panic, YOU SHALL FAIL. 

The cat is out of the bag. We know the plan. We know who you are using. We know who is behind it. We know what to do.

New Photos Of Super Cop, Abba Kyari, Cause A Stir

 Nigerians Reacts To Latest Photos Of Imprisoned Super Cop, Abba Kyari (photos)

Thugs Chase Funke Akindele Out Of Lagos Market

 The governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Lagos, Abdul-Azeez Adediran popularly known as Jandor has alleged that his deputy, Funke Akindele was chased out of Ketu fruit market while one of his supporters was also stabbed on Tuesday.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, Akindele left the campaign after she was chased by hoodlums in market.

But Adediran’s campaign train and covey moved round some streets in the council.

In reaction, Jandor while speaking meeting with council of Chief Imam at the Ketu Central Mosque in Kosofe Local Government area decried incessant attacks on his campaign train by political thugs.

He confirmed that his campaign train had come under attack in the council by hoodlums in which one member of his security team was stabbed.

He added that similar situations had happened repeatedly in various local governments areas since he kicked off his tour to 245 wards on Oct. 19, 2022.

He added that some of his followers including journalists were also wounded.
Adediran, who said that his campaign train had been attacked in Badagry and Agege and some other places, said the development would not dissuade him to rescuing the state from the ruling APC.

According to him, his resolve to relieve residents of the state of their numerous pains and to bring in breath of fresh air is unstoppable.

He said the chasing out of his running mate from of Kosofe Fruit market was not healthy for democracy in the country.

According to him, the desire to free the state from bondage, rescue it by allowing the wealth in the state work for all rather than few necessitated his coming into the race.

Commending the league of Imams for their courage to agree to honour his call for an interactive session with them, Adediran said some turned such an overture done out of fear of the ruling party.

The candidate, who sought partnership from the Islamic clerics, urged them to offer prayers to God for him.

“What is happening we do not want it again. It is not good for democracy, but despite the attacks we are moving and still motivated to rescue our people.

“I know it is only God that can give and take, if God gives you no one can take,” he said.

Responding, leader of the league, Imam Ismaheel Kajola, said that it was imperative as religious leaders to give audience and prayers for all candidates who come to seek their blessings.

Kajola prayed that God would grant Jandor his heart desire.

NAN