A Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has vowed to recommend sanctions against Nigerian politicians and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) found attempting to manipulate or undermine the country’s electoral process.
The firm’s position comes amid growing international concern over rising cases of electoral malpractice in Nigeria.
In a statement posted on its 𝕏 handle on Wednesday, the firm said it would begin spotlighting electoral officials and individuals involved in election rigging in the country.
It added that such offenders would be recommended to the office of the United States President and Congress for global sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans.
The firm stated, “We will recommend to the Office of the President and Congress that Global Magnitsky sanctions be imposed on any Nigerian politician or official of INEC who engages in efforts to rig Nigeria’s ongoing electoral process.
“These measures should include freezing all foreign assets, restricting access to the global financial system, and imposing travel bans on individuals and their immediate family members.”
Von Batten-Montague-York said that although the US State Department had acknowledged that INEC possesses the institutional capacity to conduct credible federal elections, the electoral body had repeatedly shown weakness in the face of deliberate interference by political actors.
According to the firm, those vulnerabilities were exposed during the 2023 general elections.
It added that “current developments suggest the same pattern may be emerging again.”
The lobbying firm further disclosed that although the US Congress is currently on Easter recess, it has continued to share the State Department’s concerns with key lawmakers and plans to brief congressional leadership and senior officials at the US National Security Council early next week.
“Unlike the Biden Administration, which took no meaningful action in 2023, it is not in President Donald Trump’s nature to remain passive in the face of an election being openly undermined,” it stated.
The firm said its objective was to ensure accountability for any politician or INEC official found compromising the integrity of Nigeria’s elections.
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