The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has warned Nigerian politicians to desist from inciting or executing violence during the presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday or have their visas banned and assets in the UK seized.
She also warned that politicians who incite violence could face prosecution.
“We will apply this absolutely across board not directed to any particular party; we are monitoring and looking out for hate speech.
“Our two worries are on security, not just on the role the police will play to ensure peace but about the role individuals play by getting angry or militias being paid to disrupt elections.
“Then, another worry is fake news, that is why we rely on CSOs and we will work with them to get information,’’ she said.
The UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, thanked the CSOs for the inauguration of the situation room, describing it as a good work towards the elections.
US Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, said “The time has come for this outside world that cares so much about Nigeria to listen to the people of Nigeria and to see what each of them do and then forward the results to lift Nigeria up.’’
