The United Kingdom, UK, said it had embarked on an exercise of collating information with the aim to impose visa bans and other sanctions against politicians that engaged in electoral fraud and anti-democratic exercises.

According to the UK, the individuals to be punished were those who engaged in violence and voter suppression in the governorship and state assembly elections in Nigeria.

In a statement by the British High Commission in Abuja, the UK said there were positives to take away from the elections but noted that violence and voter suppression were observed in many states including Lagos, Enugu and Rivers.

The UK was following suit initiated earlier by the United States in condemning the “use of inflammatory ethnoreligious language by some public and political figures”.

The British High Commission said, “These are positive markers to build on for future elections. However, there were notable points of concern. Members of our observation mission personally observed violence, and voter suppression in numerous voting locations.

“We witnessed and received credible reports from other observer missions and civil society organisations of vote buying and voter intimidation the destruction and hijacking of election materials and the general disruption of the process in numerous states including Lagos, Enugu and Rivers.

“In addition, we observed incidents of harassment of journalists. Freedom of speech and a free press are crucial for a healthy democracy, and journalists must be able to go about their work without being threatened.

“The UK is concerned by the use of inflammatory ethnoreligious language by some public and political figures.  We call on all leaders not just to distance themselves from this kind of language, but to prevent those who speak on their behalf from doing so in this way.

“It is a testament to their commitment to democracy that many Nigerians were prepared to vote despite being faced with intimidation and hostility.

“The UK Minister of State for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell MP, said on 21 February, that the UK is prepared to take action against those who engage in or incite electoral violence and other anti-democratic behaviours, and action could include preventing people from obtaining UK visas or imposing sanctions under our human rights sanctions regime.

“We can confirm that we are collating relevant information, with a view to taking action against some individuals.”

Barrister Alexander Cameron, brother to former United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, David Cameron, is dead.

Alexander died aged 59 after battling cancer since 2020.

Before his death on Wednesday, cancer had forced him to step down from the bar.

Alex’s chambers, Three Raymond Buildings, confirmed his death in a statement on Wednesday, according to The Sun UK.

“It is with immense sadness that Chambers announces the death of Alexander Cameron KC.

“Alex was considered to be one of the best silks at the Criminal Bar during his illustrious career and was a hugely respected and inspirational head of these Chambers.

“He will be missed enormously, and our heartfelt condolences go to his wife, Sarah, their children Imogen and Angus, and to his wider family.

“Details of a memorial service will be announced in due course,” the statement read.

At 39, the deceased was made a Queen’s Counsel and was described as a “phenomenon” with “enthralling advocacy skills”.

It is also thought Alexander encouraged David to enter politics and helped him climb his way to Prime Minister in 2010.

“We call on Nigerian authorities to hold accountable and bring to justice any individuals found to have ordered or carried out efforts to intimidate voters and suppress voting during the election process,” the US said in a press statement.

The US government on Tuesday asked the Nigerian government to hold accountable and bring to justice persons found guilty of voter intimidation during the governorship elections.

“We call on Nigerian authorities to hold accountable and bring to justice any individuals found to have ordered or carried out efforts to intimidate voters and suppress voting during the election process,” the US embassy in Abuja said in a press statement.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Saturday’s governorship elections were characterised by widespread violence, voter intimidation and suppression, according to media reports and election observer groups.

The US said its observers witnessed some of these uncivil acts first-hand. “Members of the U.S. diplomatic mission observed the elections in Lagos and elsewhere and witnessed some of these incidents first-hand.”

It noted that it is “deeply troubled” by the acts that took place during the polls in Lagos, Kano, and other states. It also found the use of ethnically charged rhetoric before, during, and after the gubernatorial election in Lagos concerning.

“We commend all Nigerian political actors, religious and community leaders, youth, and citizens who have chosen to reject and speak out against such violence and inflammatory language, affirming Nigerians’ commitment to and respect for the democratic process,” it added.

The US said it will explore all available actions, including additional visa restrictions, on individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic process in Nigeria.

It went further to commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for improving voting processes and technical elements that experienced flaws in the presidential election.

“The March 18 elections appear to have had significant operational improvements, as polling stations generally opened on time and most results were visible on an electronic viewing platform in a timely manner,” it noted.

Again, it encouraged aggrieved parties to seek redress through established legal processes, which must not be interfered with.

Governorship elections were held in 28 of Nigeria’s 36 states last Saturday with winners declared in most of them.

The presidential election was held three weeks before with Bola Tinubu of the APC emerging as the president-elect. However, the runner-up and the second runner-up, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, are challenging the results of the election.