The British High Commission in Nigeria has denounced the use of divisive ethnic and religious terminology by some members of the public and politicians on March 18 during elections for governor and state assemblies.
According to a statement posted on its Twitter page on Wednesday, the UK saw violence and voter intimidation in several polling places.
“We observed and heard reliable claims of vote buying and voter intimidation, the destruction and theft of electoral materials, and the overall disruption of the process in several states, including Lagos, Enugu, and Rivers.
“We found evidence of journalist harassment. A healthy democracy depends on free speech and the press, and journalists must be able to do their jobs without fear of reprisal.
The UK is troubled by some public and political leaders’ use of incendiary ethno-religious terminology. We urge all leaders to avoid using rhetoric like this personally, as well as to stop others who speak on their behalf from doing so.
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Many Nigerians were ready to vote despite intimidation and hostility, which is a tribute to their dedication to democracy.
The Mission reaffirmed that the UK is prepared to take action against anyone who engage in or instigate election violence and other anti-democratic behaviours. This action might include delaying the issuance of UK visas to individuals or applying sanctions under our human rights sanctions framework.
In order to take action against specific people, the Mission claimed to have gathered pertinent information.
Nonetheless, it advised any party or anyone who wished to contest the conduct of the elections or their results to do so amicably and via the proper legal processes.
“We will monitor the progress of any legal challenges raised. The elections in 2023 are significant not just for Nigeria and its citizens, but also for Africa and the rest of the globe. The UK is dedicated to fostering the relationships between our nations and peoples as a long-term partner, especially through promoting democratic growth, it was noted.
