Edo Poll: How Threats Of Sanctions By US, UK Forced Politicians To Play By Rules – Experts

Foreign affairs analysts have expressed the view that the just-concluded governorship election in Edo State was free and fair because the political actors might have become jittery over the threats by the United States and the United Kingdom to sanction anyone who would subvert democratic principles.

Governor Godwin Obaseki (of the Peoples Democratic Party) was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) after polling 307,955 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

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Prior to the poll, the US Government had placed visa restrictions on some Nigerians for allegedly undermining the elections in Kogi, Bayelsa states, among others.

The British High Commission also threatened to apply the same measures on anyone who tried to instigate electoral malpractices in Edo and Ondo states.

In an exclusive interview with THE WHISTLER, International Relations Lecturer at Bayero University Kano, Dr Riya’uddeen Maitama, said the visa ban threat was most likely a factor at the Edo poll.

He also noted that going by the pedigree of the countries where the sanctions came from, the stakeholders in Edo state knew that they would be implemented and as such played by the rules.

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“I think the threat of visa ban by the US Embassy, if not the main factor that threatened the politicians that have handled the election in Edo; it may be one of the key factor that made them to restrain themselves from abusing the political process in favour of the ruling party.

“I think they have served the notice and the threat at the right time; the US Embassy served the threat in the build up to the election and that has captured the minds of many Nigerians and it has at least instigated fear that something negative may likely happen to those that have used their positions to mar the democratic process,” he said.

He further noted that that could not have been the only factor that influenced the state’s election.

However, he observed that voters might have also been angry at the influence of the former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, on the state.

Maitama explained, “As scholars, we cannot absolutely conclude that that is the main reason that made the democratic process in Edo to be free, fair and acceptable.

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“It may be one of the factors and many other factors may have likely played a role; but I think that the threat given by the US, UK also played a significant role.

” I think the people possibly wanted to show their rejection of the politics of godfatherism by which they felt that their state would be controlled from Lagos.

“That popular slogan, ‘Edo No Be Lagos’, I think it’s a message the people were sending of their rejection of that politics of godfatherism fuelled by Tinubu through Adams Oshiomole.”

He stressed that governor Obaseki’s first term in office could have influenced the choice of the voters too.

“Also, the popularity of the governor could have possibly played a role, may be, he has done well and may be the people wished to re-elect him and he won.

“Overall, we could say that the election was free and fair and that it was generally accepted as one of the freest and fairest elections ever conducted by this administration of Muhammadu Buhari. We pray that this will continue,” he said.

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On his part, the Professor of International law and Dean, Faculty of Law, Nasarawa State University, Jamiu Raji, told THE WHISTLER that Nigerian politicians whose assets were overseas would want to tread carefully with the decisions of those host countries.

“The visa ban may have encouraged the politicians to play by the books and may have been responsible for the violence-free election we saw in Edo.

“You know, countries can use their visa policy to control entries into their countries and you know that many of our politicians have businesses and properties overseas in Europe and the United States.

“You know when Nigeria closed its borders, it forced some countries to do certain things. So, definitely, the visa ban had an impact on the election,” he said.

THE WHISTLER also recalls that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, had said that in the light of the Edo election, “our leaders are scared to be placed under visa restrictions, where they may not be able to access their loot and have opportunity for good medical treatment.”

But, on his part, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, had said that the Federal Government fulfilled its promise of ensuring a transparent Edo election.

“Nigeria has disappointed those who predicted massive disruption. The elections went well but for a few hiccups,” he had said on Saturday.

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