CLAIM: Eight politicians and two INEC officials are on the list of banned individuals
FASLE: The US did not name any individual or say how many were affected by the measure. The US Embassy in Abuja and INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, have also refuted the claim that INEC officials were affected.
Full Text:
July 25th to August 22nd saw different posts on Facebook claiming to release the list of banned individuals. One of which is this Facebook page which listed 10 names featuring eight politicians and two Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials namely:
- Nasir Ahmad Elrufai
- Gov. Ganduje and his family
- Rotimi Amaechi & his family
- Dakuku Peter side
- Murtala Sule Garo
- Yusuf Gawuna Ganduje’s Deputy
- Gov Yahaya Bello & Family
- Rauf Aregbesola
- Gov. Oyetola of Osun.
- Prof. Riskuwa Arabu (Kano state REC )
- Prof Joseph Fuwape (REC, Osun Guber election)
Verification
Since July 24th, there has been news regarding the United States of America (US) banning Nigerians who undermined democracy during the 2019 election. Different blogs and Facebook pages have released a list such as the one above. However, the publication by Premium Times explains what really happened.
Apparently, although the US did impose visa restrictions on certain individuals who undermined democracy, no names were listed. This is most likely because of national privacy restrictions, a former state department official told the newspaper.
While the statement does not actually specify the set of people, the US Embassy has taken efforts to clear INEC’s name from the smear while responding to the inquiry from the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) on a similar fact check.
“The US government refuses to be drawn into any attempt to malign the INEC over the 2019 elections as issues arising from the election are still in court”
CDD Source…
Dubawa also got in contact with Festus Okoye who also described it as false, adding that some of its officials had just arrived from the US, and others were currently there.
“We just ignored the news because it doesn’t deserve a response. INEC officials are international figures. We have been given a job to do and we did it according to the Constitution and the Law”
Festus Okoye- Spokesperson for INEC
Conclusion
The US did not name any individual or say how many were affected by the measure. The US Embassy in Abuja and INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, have also refuted the claim that INEC officials were affected.
