Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged United States President Joe Biden to ban Nigerian officials, politicians, and others over violence during Saturday’s elections.
SERAP requests visa bans and asset freezes for the sponsors of disruptions in Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Gombe, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Osun, Rivers, Taraba, and Abuja.
A letter by the deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said actions against the perpetrators would promote accountability, end impunity, and deter human rights violations.
“SERAP urges you to apply the presidential proclamations, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to promote targeted sanctions,” it reads.
The organisation strongly condemned the intimidation, harassment and unrest that led to the loss of lives and injuries in some states.
SERAP lamented how thugs snatched ballot boxes, took away election materials, broke chairs and dispersed voters in several areas of in Anyigba and Dekina in Kogi.
Hoodlums also attacked polling units Niger, Delta and Katsina, while the elections were postponed in 141 polling units in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa.
A pregnant woman, Ruth Osah, and a member of a local security outfit, Mark Orduize, were allegedly killed at a polling unit in Ubimini community, Emuoha LGA in Rivers.
In Lagos, thugs invaded polling units, including Surulere, Oshodi, Elegushi, Oniru, Ebute Metta, Itire and Badagry, despite police presence at some of the locations.
