The United States government has threatened to sanction anyone who interferes with the democratic process or instigates violence in the 2023 general elections.

The US also said it would not shy away from applying sanctions, including visa restrictions, on those found culpable of election rigging.

Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, Rolf Olson, gave the warning at the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Alumni Association Annual Seminar 2022 on “Promoting Electoral Integrity in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges” yesterday in Abuja.

It also threw its weight behind the decision of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and electronic transmission of results for the poll.

Noting that the BVAS and the electronic transmission of vote results sheets are to ensure the integrity of the elections, Olson maintained that the US had no candidate in the elections.

Recall that the US government had imposed visa restrictions on some individuals for their actions during the November 2019 Kogi and Bayelsa state elections and in the run-up to the September and October 2020 Edo and Ondo state elections.

Although the US did not reveal the identities of those banned, it said the decision reflected its commitment to strengthening democracy in Nigeria.

On the 2023 elections, Olson said: “It never ceases to amaze me how often we see comments, claims, and assertions from people in social and traditional media about what our supposed objectives are in the elections, which candidate or party we favour, how to interpret certain statements or actions of ours in terms of what it means about our intentions are perceptions.


“In reality, I think it’s quite simple to interpret us, especially when it comes to the elections. We always try to be clear in our messages, so let me be clear here on several important points:

“The United States does not support any individual candidate or party in this election cycle (or for that matter, in any other upcoming election). Our interest is in supporting credible and transparent elections that reflect the will of Nigerian voters, in a process that is conducted peacefully, full stop.”

In his remarks, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus, Okoye, disclosed that 176, 846 BVAS would be deployed to all polling units in the country.

He, however, said the commission would make available at least two BVAS devices as back up to each of the 8,809 registration areas.

While lamenting that commission’s platforms were always subject to attacks by political actors and faceless individuals and groups using hackers, Okoye said INEC was faced with the huge challenge of protecting its platforms and assets ahead of the 2023 elections.

lhordspy:
I condemn any form of election malpractice, pre or post election violence and other vices..

BUT
The US should shut the fvck up and focus on their own issues.

Always quick to poke-nose into the affairs of other nations. Just imagine them using the word 'Warning'. Like a Papa warning his kid.

The other day too, they were issuing security warning about, like world police. Where we over 345cases of mass shooting in their country this year alone. Takeoff was allegedly killed because of a dice game of recent.

*Russia was alleged to have influenced the Last election that brought in Trump.

*The followup of their last election was marred with Violence. Which people lost their lives in the capitol.

But all they do about is doing chochocho around.

alsudan:
UK and other foreign Nations must copy same, so Thiefnubuu can finally attend to his frail health in one of the many world class hospitals he built in Lagos.