The United States Secretary of State, John Kerry vowed yesterday that the US Government would deny entry to anyone responsible for stoking violence during the next month's elections.

“Given the stakes, it’s absolutely critical that these elections be conducted peacefully that they are credible, transparent and accountable,” Kerry told reporters on a visit to Lagos, after meeting with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan and the All Progressives Party presidential (APC) candidate Muhammadu Buhari.

Kerry urged the leading presidential candidates to refrain from fomenting violence after the February 14 vote.

“It is absolute critical that this election can be conducted peacefully. The international community is paying very close attention to this election,” he said, adding: “This will be the largest democratic election on the continent.”

Both candidates pledged to tamp down on violence, Kerry said, but the secretary also issued a warning: Anyone who incites postelection mayhem will be ineligible to enter the United States.

“It is imperative that Nigeria holds its elections on time,” he added, an apparent response to comments from the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, this week that the February 14 poll should be delayed.

He condemned savage attacks by Boko Haram militants. He played down reports that the U.S. had grown frustrated with Nigeria’s military commitment to fighting the insurgents. “The United States is deeply engaged with Nigeria,” he said. “Does it always work as well as we would like or as well as the Nigerians would like? The answer is no.”

He said the U.S. was sharing intelligence with Nigeria and stood ready to do more if the February 14 election proceeded in a nonviolent, democratic fashion.

“Bottom line, we want to do more and that was part of the message to both President Jonathan and General Buhari today,” Kerry added.

“We are prepared to do more but our ability to do more will depend to some degree on the full measure of credibility and accountability and transparency and peacefulness of these elections.”

Kerry suggested there was a link between the peaceful conclusion of free, fair and timely elections and further US support for Nigeria against Boko Haram.

He warned that action needed to be taken, with so-called Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq trying to extend their reach into parts of North Africa.

•Adapted from a Daily Sun report. Photo shows Kerry and President Jonathan shaking hands during the meeting . . . yesterday in Lagos.

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