Daniel Bwala, one of the spokespersons of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council in the 2023 general elections, has advised the U.S. government to go beyond the visa ban to punish erring politicians in Nigeria.
Bwala, a former chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), urged the U.S. government to extend the ban to the immediate family members of those affected by the ban.
He also called on the Joe Biden-led administration to freeze the politicians’ assets to serve as a deterrent to others.
The Borno-born PDP chieftain was reacting to a tweet by the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, announcing visa restrictions on specific individuals who undermined the democratic process during Nigeria’s 2023 elections.
Secretary Blinked stated on Twitter:
“We have imposed visa restrictions on specific individuals who undermined the democratic process during Nigeria’s 2023 elections. We remain committed to supporting Nigerian aspirations to strengthen democracy and rule of law.”
Bwala tweeted in response:
“Thank you, Mr. Tony. This is a good step and it goes to show America stays true to its values. We further request the revocation of their U.S. passports and green cards and extend same to their families, and further freeze their assets anywhere in the world.”
Irregularities and violence widely marred the 2023 general elections in Nigeria, causing widespread outrage in the country.
Vote selling, buying, and voter suppression were the order of the day on election day as security agents looked away.