UK says violence, voter suppression intimidation characterizes Guber poll

By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The United Kingdom (UK), on Wednesday, said, the Governorship and House of Assembly elections, that held on 18, March 2023, were characterized by violence, voter suppression, intimidation, and rhytoric of ethnic hate.

The UK Government however, however assured that is prepared to take action against those who engage in or incited electoral violence and other anti democratic behaviours.

Ms. Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, Senior Communications & Public Diplomacy Officer, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, British High Commission, said this in a statement in Abuja.

Noting that there were notable points of concern during the elections, The UK, said, that “members of our observation mission personally observed violence, and voter suppression in numerous voting locations.

“We witnessed and received credible reports from other observer missions and civil society organisations of vote buying and voter intimidation the destruction and hijacking of election materials and the general disruption of the process in numerous states including Lagos, Enugu and Rivers. In addition, we observed incidents of harassment of journalists. Freedom of speech and a free press are crucial for a healthy democracy, and journalists must be able to go about their work without being threatened,” the statement said.

Ms. Akande-Alegbe said, the UK is concerned by the use of inflammatory ethno-religious language by some public and political figures.

“We call on all leaders not just to distance themselves from this kind of language, but to prevent those who speak on their behalf from doing so in this way,” the embassy spokesperson said.

She noted that it is a testament to their commitment to democracy that many Nigerians were prepared to vote despite being faced with intimidation and hostility.

According to her, “The UK Minister of State for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell MP, said on 21 February, that the UK is prepared to take action against those who engage in or incite electoral violence and other anti-democratic behaviours, and action could include preventing people from obtaining UK visas or imposing sanctions under our human rights sanctions regime. We can confirm that we are collating relevant information, with a view to taking action against some individuals”.

While urging any party or individual who wishes to challenge the process or outcome of the elections to do so peacefully and through the appropriate legal channels, the UK authority concluded that “we will be observing the course of legal challenges made”.