By Williams Anuku, Abuja
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has protested the visa ban imposed on him by the United States government for undermining the nation’s electoral process.
In a letter dated September 16 written to the U.S. Embassy by Folashade Ayoade, Secretary to the Government of Edo State, Bello accused the US. of partisanship, arguing that his state is only bothered by the timing of the U.S. press statement and the mention of the Kogi elections.
Ayoade said, “For the most part, we concede that elections in Nigeria are complex affairs which will continue to require improvements for the foreseeable future.”
” The 2019 Kogi State gubernatorial election was also not without its challenges. However, it is also crystal clear from critical and composite analyses of the records (official, media, observers) of the November 16, 2020 polls that regrettable incidents were limited to a few polling units, while the overwhelmingly larger portions of the ballot were free, fair and credible”.