The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called on the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and other members of the international community to immediately impose visa ban on President Buhari for allegedly stifling free speech in Nigeria.
The party said the visa ban should be extended to Attorney Gen. Abubakar Malami; the Information minister Lai Mohammed and certain leaders of the APC.
In a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said the ban violated United Nations International Charter on Human Rights.
NASS minority caucus: ban has no legal backing
The minority caucus in the National Assembly asked Nigerians to disregard the ban
The caucus made up of the Senate and House of Representatives opposition members described the ban as draconian.
It also dismissed the threat of prosecution of those violating the ban by Malami.
In a statement jointly signed by Senate Minority Leader Enyinnaya Abaribe and Minority Leader of the House Ndudi Elumelu, the opposition lawmakers asked Nigerians to continue to use their Twitter handle as they will not be contravening any known laws of the land.
The statement partly reads:” It is agonising that Nigeria and Nigerians have been losing billions of naira on daily basis since the ban on Twitter. This is completely unacceptable as it is worsening the already biting economic hardship and frightening unemployment level in the country.”
“Moreover, the ban on Twitter in Nigeria appears to be in favour of criminal and terrorist elements, whose activities fester in an environment of suppressed information flow.”
Activist lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) faulted the ban, saying it was contrary to the spirit of June 12.
Adegboruwa therefore admonished activists, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and all lovers of democracy, not to participate in any programme or event to commemorate the June 12, 1993 el ection.