ELECTORAL OFFENDERS WILL FACE VISA SANCTIONS- US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AFRICAN AFFAIRS

The United States will sanction anybody involved in violence or worked to undermine the March 28 and April 11 elections which took place in Nigeria. Such persons will be unwelcome in the United States.
The United States Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas- Greenfied stated this in an opinion on Monday and described Ngeria asa leader of democracy in Africa.
She stated,
"Some individuals worked to undermine the will of the Nigerian people, interfering with electoral processes and resorting to violence and voter intimidation.
"We regret any loss of life and destruction of property. As Secretary (John Kerry) said  when he visited Nigeria in January, violence and rigging have no place in democratic elections.
"Anyone found to have incited violence or interfered with electoral processes will be unwelcome in the United States and subject to visa sanctions"
Linda Thomas- Greenfield further said,
"By participating peacefully and enthusiastically in the recent electoral processes in March and April, millions  of you stood strong to re-affirm Nigeria as a leader for democracy in Africa ...and around the world"
Commending Nigerians and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),  the Assistant Secretary of State said,
"Elections are ultimately about people... the volunteers and poll workers, who manage polling stations; the party candidates and supporters, who craft policies and political platforms; the civil society activists, who work for transparency, the journalists, who report on the campaigns and events on election day; the political leaders, who accept victory or concede defeat, especially when stepping down, is in the country's best interest"
According to her, under the leadership of Prof. Attahiru Jega, INEC succeeded in conducting a generally smooth electoral process and making improvements on the exercise between March 28 and April 11.