2023: US Threatens Sanctions Against Politicians

The United States Government has threatened sanctions, including visa restrictions, for politicians planning to interfere with the democratic processes or instigate violence in the 2023 general elections.
It also threw its weight behind the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and Electronic transmission of results for the elections.
Political Counselor at the United States Embassy in Nigeria Rolf Olson gave the warning on behalf of the United States Government at the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Alumni Association Annual Seminar 2022 on “Promoting Electoral Integrity in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges” in Abuja.
He noted that the BVAS and the electronic transmission of vote results sheets were to ensure the integrity of Nigerian elections. Olson maintained that the United States Government does not have a candidate in the upcoming elections.
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 is 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.
“Individuals seeking to undermine the democratic process, including through violence, may be found ineligible for visas to the United States.
“We have imposed visa restrictions in the past against those responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic process, and remain fully willing to do so again in the context of the upcoming elections.”
He expressed the Government’s disappointment at the series of “unproductive criticism directed at INEC and its officials in recent months, and which only seems to have expanded of late.”
According to the official, the United States Government “is impressed by the commitment, evenhandedness, and diligence exhibited by INEC thus far in the election cycle.”
He added that while nobody needs to forfeit their right to express legitimate concerns about the process or about the conduct of INEC, the rhetoric attacking INEC’s motives or overall competence is unhelpful.
He advised parties, candidates, and their supporters to avoid language that tries to “guarantee” victory, adding that there is no true democratic election in which the outcome is foretold.