‘Buhari Harassing Opposition,’ U.S Rep Tells Trump, Asks U.S To Monitor 2019 Election

A United States congressman, Christopher Smith, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of harassing opposition leaders ahead of the 2019 elections, calling on the U.S to closely monitor the polls.

Smith, who is Chairman of the U.S House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, also accused President Buhari’s administration of cracking down on non-violent protesters in the country.

In a statement he issued regarding Nigeria’s upcoming general elections in 2019, the U.S congressman urged President Trump to use his sanctioning authority to punish any Nigerian official who subverts the country’s electoral process in 2019.

The statement was published on Smith’s official website.

He states: “I am very concerned by the current trajectory in Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy and economy, and President Muhammadu Buhari’s apparent crackdown on non-violent protests and harassment of opposition leaders, such as freezing the assets of opposition vice presidential candidate Peter Obi and the raiding of the home of two sons of opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar.

“I call upon the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that elections will be free and fair, and for the Commission to remain impartial.

“I further call upon President Buhari to use his authority to end the violence perpetrated by Fulani extremists, particularly in the Middle Belt region, and question why he has failed to do so.

“I also urge the Trump Administration to monitor the evolving situation closely, and not to hesitate to use its sanctioning authority to hold accountable any officials who subvert the electoral process or foment violence against citizens.”

Smith chaired a hearing on Nigeria on December 13, 2018, entitled “Nigeria at a Crossroads: The Upcoming Election.”

Meanwhile, the Buhari administration had denied freezing Mr Obi’s accounts. It also denied the alleged raid on the home of two sons of Atiku.