Saraki Says U.S Should Extend Visa Ban To Electoral, Judicial Officers

FORMER Senate President Bukola Saraki has urged the United States (U.S) to expand the visa ban it slammed on Nigerian politicians to include electoral officers, security officials and judicial officers who undermine the nation’s democracy by their actions during and after elections

He also called for a strong enforcement of the law which provides for punishment of politicians, law enforcement agents, ordinary citizens and electoral officers who are caught subverting the electoral process.

“All stakeholders must show commitment to diligent enforcement of and compliance with the law. This has been addressed in the 2010 Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2019 worked upon by the Eighth National Assembly,” he said.

Saraki spoke on Tuesday on the topic: Electoral Reforms and Democracy, at an event organised by the Centre for Advancement of Civil Liberties to mark the International Day of Democracy.

The former Senate President submitted that a faulty electoral process is a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

He enjoined the Ninth National Assembly to expedite action on the Electoral Act as the next general election is almost 30 months away.

Saraki said: “Nothing threatens our democracy more than a faulty electoral process. We cannot afford to allow our populace to lose faith in the democratic process. That will be a recipe for chaos.”

Also, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday hailed the U.S for imposing visa ban on some Nigerian politicians accused of allegedly undermining democracy and electoral process.

In a statement by its spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan, the main opposition said: “It is instructive to note that this announcement by the U.S, which reinforces the determination for resistance in Nigeria, is also an unambiguous caution to the sacked National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, the APC governorship candidates in Edo, Osagie Ize-Iyamu and his Ondo counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu, over their plots to use violence to undermine the sanctity of the Edo and Ondo state governorship elections…”

Comments

EndSARS: Protesters In New York Want SARS Operatives Sacked

Hundreds of young anti-SARS protesters on Sunday stormed the Nigeria House in New York demanding transparency in the disbandment of the police unit back home. The protesters said operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad found wanting should be sacked and not redeployed. Among them was Stephen “Papi” Ojo, the artist, model, and choreographer who stole the show as the ‘blue-guy’ in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video. The protest started shortly after the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, announced the dissolution of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad. Adamu also announced plans for a new arrangement to address anticipated policing gaps following the disbandment, and the constitution of an investigative team to probe the alleged cases of rights violations, among others. But the protesters, who bore placards with different inscriptions including, “We no want audio ban”, said they were not buying it. They argued that previous commitments announced by the force to change...

Police Panel Submits ‘Damning Report’ On Disgraced DCP, Abba Kyari

The Special Investigation Panel set up by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to probe the former Head, Intelligence Response Team, Abba Kyari, a suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, has submitted its report. The four-man panel headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Joseph Egbunike, submitted its findings to the IG on Monday. Information from a reliable source states that the panel submitted ‘damning findings’ in its report, although the DCP continued to prove innocence in the face of the accusations. The source had yet to reveal further details of the report. The United States Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, had issued an arrest warrant against Kyari for his alleged links to the suspected fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, alias Hushpuppi, who is standing trial for various offences that include internet fraud and money laundering. Hushpuppi has since pleaded guilty to the char...

Gov. Dave Umahi Arrests Journalist Over Facebook Post

Ebonyi State Police have arrested and detained journalist Godfrey Chikwere on the orders of the state governor David Umahi over Facebook posts. The journalist was arrested by the police during the weekend following a petition by the government accusing him of “hate speech, incisive publication and cyberbullying.” “I write to inform your esteemed office as follows: That on the 8th day of October, 2021 at about 14:44 hours, one Godfrey Chikwere with phone number 080615707** did publish fake news and incisive post on Facebook profile called Godfrey Chikwere and other media platforms and stated as follows: Nigerian Army is seriously and willingly losing respect. “That on the same 8th of October, 2021, Godfrey Chikwere in the Facebook profile made a dangerous and disturbing publication and stated as follows: ‘They (politicians) can pay a youth to murder a perceived political enemy but they can’t give such youth money to start a business.’ “That this false, fake and incisive publi...

ExtMedia

Search This Blog