…Non-Nigerians barred from voting – NIS boss

From: Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

Comptroller of Immigration, Anambra State Command, Ekpedeme King, on Thursday , announced that his command had retrieved several voter cards, National Identity Cards and Anambra State Identity Cards from some foreigners’ in the state.

King, who disclosed this  while addressing officers of the command and leaders of various associations of ECOWAS nationals in the state, banned foreigners from participating in the forthcoming Anambra November 18 gubernatorial poll, adding that anyone caught would be prosecuted according to electoral laws before been repatriated to his country.

According to him, “The foreign holders of these documents have been repatriated and the retrieved documents will be forwarded to the Immigration Service Headquarters for further action. The Command wishes to state it clear that no foreigner should allow himself or herself to be used to meddle in the forthcoming electoral process in the state through persuasion, coercion, harassment, intimidation duress, inducement or outright bribery.

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“Such meddlesomeness is not acceptable in any part of the world and therefore the associations have been requested to warn their compatriots that any foreigner that is caught subverting the electoral process will not just be deported but will be tried according to the country’s electoral laws, if convicted, jailed then deported after serving his or her sentence.

He further advised associations to be actively involved in migration management by encouraging their compatriots to document their stay at the Immigration offices in the 21 Local Government areas, collaborate with Divisional Immigration Officers (DIO) in monitoring immigrants and intelligence gathering in the national interest, as well as respect the host country’s laws, culture and tradition.

“The objective of this meeting is in consonance with the new direction of the Comptroller-General of Immigration, CGI Muhammad Babandede in realisation that Nigeria remains the preferred destination in the ECOWAS sub-region and the fact that Nigeria is signatory to the ECOWAS protocols on free movement of persons, right of residence and right of establishment. The Command is exploring the promotion of regional integration and growth through community citizens.”

He further commended the IMS headquarters and Anambra State government for providing motorcycles they would use for close monitoring of the activities of foreigners across 21 local government areas in the state as election approaches.