Civil society organizations, under the banner of the Coalition for Justice and Equity Forum, have urged the United States Government to dismiss a petition seeking a visa ban on Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo.
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The petition, reportedly submitted by unnamed political actors, calls for travel restrictions on the Edo governor and his immediate family, which would bar them from entering the U.S. if approved.
In a statement jointly signed by the coalition’s Chairman, Comrade Peter Okafor, and Secretary, Comrade Musa Ndanusa, the group condemned the petition as politically motivated, arguing that it is intended to discredit Edo Governor Okpebholo and undermine his administration’s developmental strides in Edo State.
“It is important that foreign governments, including the United States, recognize the political undertones of such petitions. Otherwise, we risk encouraging undue external interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs,” the statement said.
The group warned that approving such a petition could set a dangerous precedent where international diplomatic actions are used as tools in local political rivalries.
While reiterating the importance of international accountability, the coalition cautioned against the misuse of foreign policy instruments for partisan agendas.
“We support global standards for justice and human rights, but those standards must not be manipulated for political witch-hunts,” the group added.
The Coalition called on the US government to uphold principles of fairness and due process in dealing with petitions from politically sensitive environments.
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