Every year, on Independence Day, Nigerians in the diaspora paint everywhere green and white. This consistent show of patriotism must have impressed the lawmakers in the House of Representatives, who have now proposed a bill that could allow this category of Nigerians to vote in future elections.
Section 1 of the bill lays the groundwork for granting voting rights to Nigerians living abroad. It proposes that once passed, elections conducted under this Act would include provisions for Nigerians outside the country to cast their votes, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) taking charge.
Meanwhile, Section 4 clarifies that the bill isn’t trying to disrupt existing laws but is designed to create a framework that lets Nigerians in the diaspora join the electoral process without compromising current regulations.
This bill, co-sponsored by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Sodeeq Abdullahi, passed its second reading on November 21 and has been sent to the constitution amendment committee for further action. So there’s a solid chance that it could become law soon.
Why are they pushing for this bill to become law?
In July 2024, during the debate on the bill’s general principles, Abdullahi clarified why he’s standing on his ten toes to see this bill come to life. His reasons? Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) gives Nigerians the fundamental right to freedom of expression and opinion. He says this includes the right to vote no matter where you are.
He added that Nigerians in the diaspora invest heavily in the economy by sending money home through remittances, which make up about $20 billion annually. He argued that this financial contribution alone should earn them a say in choosing the country’s leaders, whether they live in Nigeria or not.
In his words, “It is widely believed that diaspora remittances have contributed remarkably to the development of Nigeria. Nigerians in the diaspora make considerable contributions to the Nigerian economy through huge financial inflow. Sadly, existing laws in Nigeria have not provided voting rights to Nigerians in the diaspora”.
Abdullahi also emphasised that this bill has the potential to “promote holistic inclusiveness in a democratic society.”
What does this mean for Nigeria?
It could boost democracy in the country by giving millions of Nigerians abroad a direct say in choosing leaders. The new level of inclusivity the bill would promote, as Abdullahi said, would also bring fresh perspectives and accountability to the political scene.
But there would be some potential hiccups, too, since this is uncharted territory for Nigeria. There’s a lot to figure out, from setting up secure voting systems to ensuring votes are accurately counted. Considering Nigeria’s bad history with electoral processes, it’s fair to wonder how smoothly this will actually go.
Has this worked in other parts of Africa?
In South Africa and other African countries, citizens in the diaspora are allowed to vote. If you’re wondering how that’s going, all we can say is that the process isn’t flawless. While the idea is good, the process has some weaknesses. In South Africa, for example, one of its major flaws is that diaspora voters can only cast their ballots at South African embassies or consulates, which can be inconvenient and stressful to access.
The voting process itself is not hard to figure out, but given the not-so-great turnout recorded, the system could use a little more “wow” factor—maybe a digital option or something that makes it easier for people to get involved.
For diaspora voting to work in Nigeria, INEC will not only need to address inadequacies that threaten its integrity to conduct free and fair elections, but it will also need to study the gaps in systems from countries like South Africa and use those lessons to create a smoother, more efficient voting experience for diaspora voters (that’s if the bill gets passed).
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