Elections: Nigerian- American Professionals Ask Foreign Nations to Deny Visas to Trouble Makers

Nigerian military personnel

*Backs use of card readers, military deployment

Damilola Oyedele in Abuja

The Association of Nigerian American Professionals in Nigeria (ANAPIN) has called on foreign nations to adopt the stance of the United States, and deny visas to anyone who promotes or stokes violence before, during and after Nigeria's 2015 general elections.

This, it said, is necessary to ensure that such perpetrators or sponsors of violence do not find a safe haven anywhere.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, the President of ANAPIN, Mazi Emmanuel Okoro lamented that there is a real danger that some people may resort to violence to achieve their political objectives to ensure their party is victorious at all costs.

This attitude, Okoro noted, has transformed the 2015 elections into a do or die affair.

"We note with dismay the unhealthy introduction of ethnicity and religion into the electioneering process...call on our leaders to be sensitive to the fact that more than what they say, their actions, appearances and conducts speak volumes that could make or mar the polity and trigger violence," Okoro said.

The group also backed the use of electronic card readers to screen and authentic voters noting that the use does not imply bad faith or bias against any party or individual.

"A system which ensures that the person presenting a PVC for voting is actually the person to whom the PVC was issued is reasonable and in line with global best practice," Okoro said

It also called for the deployment of military to security on election day expressing belief that the military does not interfere with the legitimate operation of polling units by election officials.

"Although ANAPIN recognises the traditional role of the military for national defense, their deployment in this situation will safeguard lives and property. In addition, it will give people, especially women the confidence to come out and vote," he said.