The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the international community to impose a visa ban on President Muhammadu Buhari and his family, over his alleged roles in the rigging of the 2023 elections in Nigeria.

This call is part of the opposition party’s response to a statement made by the presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, who reportedly quoted President Buhari as saying that the PDP failed to win the last presidential election “due to its non-tactical abilities.”

In the PDP’s response on Friday, contained in a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP described Buhari’s comments as “unfortunate, reckless, unpresidential conduct and subjudice”.

The statement reads in parts: “Having clearly undermined democracy in Nigeria, the PDP calls on the International Community to accordingly impose sanctions, including visa ban and travel restrictions on President Buhari and his family immediately after he vacates office on May 29, 2023.

The party said “It is instructive to state that part of the electoral process is the adjudication by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which is considering petitions arising from the election. President Buhari, by his subjudice statement, is clearly interfering in the electoral process ostensibly to influence the outcome and undermine the constitutionally laid down procedures for change of government.”

The party therefore called for “an open investigation into the roles played by President Buhari in the undermining of democracy in Nigeria in the 2019 and 2023 Presidential elections.

PDP said: “President Buhari needs to be advised to be circumspect and allow the judicial process to proceed without further undue interference and bullying by him.

“The PDP appreciates Nigerians for standing firm in defending our democracy at this critical time. As a Party, we will never relent in our determination to retrieve our Presidential mandate through the Tribunal no matter the machination of the APC.”