The United Kingdom has threatened to restrict eligibility for visas of persons who plan violence in the forthcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
It said this in a tweet by the British Commission on Tuesday.
It added that such persons may also be prevented from accessing UK-based assets and may be prosecuted under international law.
Catriona Laing, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, in the statement, said she has held meetings with the leaders of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party on the Saturday governorship election in Edo State.
The commission explained that the parley focused on the need for the parties to prevail on their supporters to avoid violence before, during, and after the elections.
It further said the UK welcomed the signing of a peace accord by the governorship candidates in the state.
“The UK takes a strong stand against election-related violence and just as we did in the general election in 2019, we will continue to take action against individuals we identify as being responsible for violence during elections.
“This could include restrictions on their eligibility to travel to the UK, restrictions on access to UK-based assets or prosecution under international law,” the statement read.
UK’s proposed sanction comes 24 hours after the United States imposed visa restrictions on politicians who masterminded violence and rigging of the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States.
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