FELIX NWANERI writes on the transfer by the Nationwide Meeting to make sure passage of the Diaspora Voting Proper Invoice election that may empower Nigerians residing overseas to take part within the nation’s electoral course of forward of the 2027 common election
The search by Nigerians residing overseas to take part within the nation’s electoral course of has been a recurring decimal whilst extra African nations proceed to offer their nationals within the Diaspora the chance to have a say in what occurs within the polity again house.
Part 77 (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) states that “each citizen of Nigeria, who has attained the age of 18 years on the time of the registration of voters for the needs of election shall be entitled to be registered as a voter for that election” however Diaspora Nigerians have regularly been shut out from the nation’s electoral course of.
Unofficial estimate of Nigerians residing overseas places the determine at about 15 million however United Nations (UN) statistics places it at 1.7 million. Little doubt, the UN determine is grossly underestimated, however many consider that it was time Nigerians residing overseas are factored into the nation’s electoral course of given their contributions to the financial system.
Diaspora Nigerians not solely contribute over $20 billion yearly to the nation’s financial system by international remittances, in addition they contribute by funding in productive actions that assist financial development and job creation.
In keeping with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), remittances from Nigerians worldwide reached an unprecedented $553 million in July 2024, a outstanding 130 per cent improve from the corresponding interval in 2023.
Additionally, most new companies which have made Nigeria the biggest financial system in Africa and one of the vital diversified within the final decade are start-ups by diaspora Nigerians returning with higher entrepreneurial expertise, honed whereas working for prime corporations and establishments abroad. Regardless of these contributions, it has been a protracted look forward to Nigerians residing overseas to take part in elections again house.
Many had anticipated that the wait by this group of Nigerians to be a part of the electoral course of can be over in 2015, however the hope was dashed. The then Goodluck Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration hyped diaspora voting forward of the 2015 common election nevertheless it by no means materialized.
Jonathan had promised to liaise with federal lawmakers and the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) on the difficulty throughout modification to the structure by the seventh Nationwide Meeting, saying: “I’ve requested INEC to work in direction of it by 2015. Diaspora voting is practical. Even when it won’t be doable in all elections, a minimum of, we are going to work in direction of the presidential and governorship elections.
However for the parliamentary, due to the issues concerned, it could be troublesome.” Then chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, equally expressed related optimism though he identified that there was want for ample expertise to be put in place and a consensus reached on the methodology to be adopted.
“Diaspora voting is feasible and we’re not against it as a fee as a result of no matter alternative we are able to make accessible, as long as it may be executed transparently and with none possible destructive penalties,” he stated. Jega’s predecessor, Prof. Maurice Iwu, had made efforts in 2007 to introduce Diaspora voting with out success.
He had then proposed 4 English-speaking nations, together with the UK and United States as pilot nations, however the incapacity of the sixth Nationwide Meeting to amend Part 77 (sub-section 2) of the Structure, which offers that solely Nigerians, resident within the nation can register and vote in elections, pissed off the initiative.
The seventh Nationwide Meeting, in voting towards Diaspora voting proper reasoned that INEC was nonetheless grappling to strengthen its capability to conduct elections throughout the nation, and because of this, it might be counterproductive to increase the fee’s obligations overseas with out the requisite capability. Lack of knowledge at Nigerian embassies overseas, value and logistics had been cited by then federal lawmakers as causes they felt that Nigeria was not ripe for diaspora voting at the moment.
It was an identical expertise in 2022 because the ninth Nationwide Meeting voted overwhelmingly towards the “Invoice for an Act to change the provisions of the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to supply for Diaspora Voting, and for associated Issues.”
Out of 469 federal lawmakers (Senate and Home of Representatives), solely 390 had been current throughout plenary throughout voting on the difficulty. Whereas 87 votes had been counted in assist of diaspora voting, 269 votes countered the invoice.
A breakdown of the figures confirmed that 29 senators and 58 members of the Home of Representatives voted in assist of the invoice, whereas 62 senators and 240 representatives voted towards. For a constitutional invoice to be handed by the Nationwide Meeting, it requires the assist of a minimum of two-third of members of each the Senate and the Home of Representatives.
Diaspora remittances have contributed remarkably to the event of Nigeria… Sadly, present legal guidelines haven’t offered voting rights for Nigerians residing overseas
tenth NASS raises hope
Whereas advocates of diaspora voting proper, who appear not deterred by unsuccessful makes an attempt up to now have continued to push for growth of the political area to permit Nigerians overseas to take part within the electoral course of, the tenth Nationwide Meeting appears dedicated to interrupt the jinx.
The Senate gave a sign to this in November final 12 months, when the Senate Chief, Opeyemi Bamidele, whereas talking throughout a digital diaspora dialogue, identified the resolve of the Nationwide Meeting to rethink the diaspora voting proper and different associated points affecting Nigeria within the diaspora.
Earlier than then, the Senate had in a communiqué issued on the finish of its retreat in Ikot Ikpene, Akwa-Ibom State resolved to amongst different issues, amend the Electoral Act to permit for diaspora voting to allow residents on important service and others overseas to vote a minimum of in presidential elections. Senator Bamidele, stated: “Let me inform you some excellent news. Not that we are attempting to carry the invoice (Diaspora voting proper Invoice) again.
The invoice is already on the ground of the tenth Senate. Precisely two weeks in the past, we had the primary studying of the invoice. It has already been scheduled for a second studying. “Undoubtedly, because the Chief of the Senate, I can guarantee you that we are going to think about the second studying of the invoice this week. After this stage, it is going to be referred to the Senate Committee on the Evaluation of the 1999 Structure.
“As it’s presently, the Structure Evaluation Committee is chaired by the Deputy President of the Senate. Because the Chief of the Senate, I’m the vice chairman. You could be relaxation assured that I’m with you on this effort. I see this battle as a generational battle. It’s about your kids. Additionally it is about guaranteeing better inclusion in our electoral course of.
“We can’t be occupied with what’s coming from you (Diaspora Nigerians), however deny your proper to vote. Diaspora voting is a proper that should be recognised within the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. After the passage of the invoice, it is going to be taken to the Home of Representatives for concurrence.”
Senator Bamidele defined that after the concurrence by the Home of Representatives, the invoice can be transmitted to the state Homes of Meeting and two-thirds of the 36 state Homes of Meeting should approve to turn into efficient.
He, due to this fact, urged the stakeholders to have interaction governors of the 36 states of the federation and audio system of the state Homes of Meeting to make sure the passage of the invoice into regulation. The Home of Representatives, on its half, has assured Nigerians of its dedication to make sure passage of the Diaspora Voting Proper Invoice earlier than it.
The invoice is sponsored by the Speaker of the Home, Tajueen Abass, and the lawmaker representing Sabon Gari Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, Sadiq Abdullahi. The speaker, who underscored the urgency of the invoice and the necessity to implement it by the following election cycle in 2027, is of the view that “it’s time for this imaginative and prescient to turn into a mission.”
He added: “We have to make sure that Nigerians overseas are usually not solely contributing economically but in addition have their rights protected, together with the proper to vote.” Abdullahi, had whereas main the controversy on the invoice’s common ideas, argued that part 39 of the 1999 Structure (as amended) grants residents the basic rights of freedom of expression and opinion.
He famous that whatever the areas of Nigerians, it’s their elementary proper to train civic duty in selecting leaders for the varied arms of presidency of their nation.
He additional argued that Nigerians within the diaspora contribute financially to the nation by remittances, and as such, ought to be a part of the electioneering course of, whether or not or not they reside on the shores of Nigeria.
His phrases “It’s extensively believed that diaspora remittances have contributed remarkably to the event of Nigeria. Nigerians within the diaspora make appreciable contributions to the Nigerian financial system by enormous monetary influx.
Sadly, present legal guidelines in Nigeria haven’t offered voting rights to Nigerians within the diaspora. “Consequently, the agitation for voting rights for Nigerians in diaspora has continued to realize momentum. It’s a observe that enables for holistic inclusiveness in a democratic society. Part 1 of the invoice ensures the voting rights of Nigerian residents residing exterior Nigeria.
The part offers that elections to be carried out underneath this Act, if handed, shall embrace elections wherein the Fee (Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee) is empowered by regulation. “Part 4 offers that this Act, if handed, shall not invalidate present legal guidelines in Nigeria. It solely offers a platform for Nigerians within the diaspora to take part in elections carried out in Nigeria.”
The speaker (Abbas), had on the Nationwide Diaspora Day occasion in July, stated: “I used to be the one who pushed for diaspora voting proper 20 years in the past, when then President Olusegun Obasanjo tasked us with enhancing our democracy by incorporating Nigerians overseas into our political framework,”
Arguments for and towards diaspora voting
Amongst pertinent questions, which some stakeholders maintain asking over Nigeria’s incapacity to grant voting proper to her residents residing overseas are: Why shouldn’t residents in Diaspora be allowed to vote because the impression their votes will make is could possibly be monumental?
Why do candidates for elections fly overseas to canvass for assist from residents residing in international land, when they don’t seem to be allowed to vote? Why do the nation’s main political events have abroad chapters, whose members contribute to their funding, however are denied the proper to vote throughout major elections to select flag bearers in addition to the primary elections?
Whereas the assumption is that the realisation of Diaspora voting won’t solely strengthen the bond between Nigerians overseas and people at house, however will facilitate efficient mobilisation and utilisation of the large experience and assets within the diaspora for the nation’s growth, it has additionally been superior that Nigeria can’t rank beneath the 28 African nations which have accredited voting proper for his or her residents overseas.
These, who maintain these views, maintained that Nigerians shouldn’t be discriminated towards politically in their very own nation on the bottom that they reside overseas. Members of this political faculty maintained that given the enormity of the potential voting bloc from the diaspora, it’s incontestable that it’ll make a distinction in nationwide elections, notably the presidential election.
Maybe, it’s towards these backdrops that some analysts are of the view the Diaspora group qualifies as Nigeria’s thirty seventh state therefore justice calls for a voting proper regulation, which is able to function a step to official recognition of residents overseas as an integral phase of the polity. Regardless of the arguments in favour of diaspora voting proper, some stakeholders are of view that it shouldn’t be a precedence for now, because it won’t profit Nigeria or Nigerians.
Whereas this place is based totally on value implication, it was additionally argued that for votes from overseas to be authorized in Nigerian elections, each Nigerian overseas should be afforded the identical alternative to vote, not a state of affairs the place these in America, Canada and UK are given the chance to vote, whereas these in African nations and Asia are denied such alternative. There may be additionally the difficulty of part 134(2) of the Structure, which talks in regards to the threshold for declaration of winners, notably for presidential elections.
This constitutional provision, talks about majority of votes and unfold – 1 / 4 of the votes in two third of the states. The query that arises over the part is: Will diaspora residents represent one other state for the aim of presidential elections? The worry of residents overseas, falling for political propaganda if allowed to take part within the electoral processes again house has additionally been raised.
The idea is that their voting sample is prone to tilt the ends in favour of individuals, who outsmarts others in propaganda directed at them though how “international propaganda” differs from the one at house entrance was not defined.
Nigeria continues to be fighting the operation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and individuals are speaking about diaspora voting… we should always work in direction of rectifying the issue as a substitute of speaking about diaspora voting
Stakeholders communicate on the difficulty
The incumbent chairman of INEC, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, has repeatedly opined that as a result of residents of Nigeria residing exterior the nation make appreciable contributions to the financial system by remittances, they need to have the ability to vote in election again house. Yakubu additionally believes that diaspora voting is in line with international finest observe.
His phrases: “INEC is dedicated to offering Nigerians residing exterior the nation the chance to have a say in who turn into our leaders at varied ranges. I hope that the authorized and constitutional obstacles to voting by Nigerians in Diaspora will quickly be eliminated in order that Nigerians, no matter the place they reside world wide would have the chance to vote in future elections.”
Senator Ned Nwoko (PDP, Delta North), who shares Prof. Yakubu’s view, opined that the Nigerian Diaspora varieties an important and dynamic a part of its international group, therefore it ought to be given the chance to be a part of the electoral course of. His phrases: “The Nigerian Diaspora, includes tens of millions of Nigerians residing overseas and varieties an important and dynamic a part of our nation’s international group.
These people preserve deep ties to their homeland and possess a wealth of information, expertise and assets that may contribute considerably to Nigeria’s development and growth. In recognising the significance of their engagement, it’s crucial to discover avenues for his or her energetic participation in our electoral processes.
“It’s crucial to discover avenues for his or her energetic participation in our electoral processes. This seeks to introduce needed amendments to the Nigerian Structure, granting Nigerians within the Diaspora the proper to vote; the power to be voted for and the institution of devoted illustration within the legislative chambers.”
A former Minister of Education and Founding father of FixPolitics, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesil, who believes that diaspora voting falls throughout the triangular pillars of democracy, maintained the diaspora group can’t be disengaged from the nation’s political course of. Ezekwesili, who made the assertion on the current digital occasion titled,
“Diaspora Dialogue: An Crucial for Constitutional Reform,” hosted by FixPolitics and which introduced collectively Nigerians within the diaspora to debate the difficulty of diaspora voting proper, insisted that permitting Nigerians overseas to take part within the nation’s electoral course of might be a vital step in direction of attaining a extra inclusive and useful democracy.
Highlighting the numerous assets the diaspora group possesses – information, networks, and monetary assets – all of that are essential for growth however stay largely untapped attributable to their exclusion from the political course of, she stated:
“The fact of our political anomaly is that the provision aspect of our politics throughout the political class, have a monopoly maintain on the politics and democracy, not simply of Nigeria, however of many different African nations.”
She added: “And that monopoly seize of the political area can’t in any manner be contested till we unlock the type of energy and affect that the Diaspora group has. So, the Diaspora group can’t be disengaged from the nation’s political course of.”
The chairperson of Nigerians in Diaspora Fee (NIDCOM), For Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa, who has been within the vanguard of the marketing campaign for diaspora voting proper, is of the view that Nigeria can’t afford to be disregarded given the humongous contributions of residents residing overseas to the nation’s financial system.
“In every single place we go, it’s about Diaspora voting. Nigerians in Diaspora are very desperate to vote. We’re speaking a few group of people that remits over $20 billion yearly to the Nigerian financial system.
We’re speaking a few group of pros, who wherever they go, are contributing to the event and progress of their nation,” she stated.
Chairman of Nigeria Diaspora Voting Council (NDVC), Prince Ade Omole, on his half, stated: “Through the years, NDVC has continued to push for the passage of the Diaspora Voting Invoice, whereas working with the manager and the legislature to contemplate this key initiative.
If handed, the invoice will permit all eligible Nigerians, no matter their bodily location, to take part within the democratic course of. “Lately, NDVC submitted its fine-tuned Diaspora Voting Invoice to the Nationwide Meeting for consideration in the course of the ongoing constitutional evaluate course of.
We aren’t merely sending a reimbursement house; we’re energetic stakeholders within the Nigerian undertaking, making important investments within the nation’s future.
It’s time this contribution is acknowledged by granting voting rights to all eligible Nigerian residents, no matter the place they reside. “The NDVC stays resolute in its mission to safe voting rights for the over 17 million Nigerians residing overseas. The Council will proceed to advocate for constitutional amendments permitting all eligible Nigerians to take part within the democratic course of, no matter their bodily location.”
Auta Nyada, the chairman of the Nigerian Bar Affiliation (NBA) Authorized Schooling Committee, who believes that Nigeria will not be ripe for Diaspora voting, is of the view that the nation’s electoral system will not be mature sufficient to accommodate it Nyada, who suggested INEC to handle the loopholes noticed within the 2023 common election and the opposite off cycle elections moderately than delve into diaspora voting, stated: “Diaspora voting is definitely a good suggestion, however for me, I don’t assume that Nigeria has reached the stage for it. Introducing diaspora voting would require plenty of effort to achieve success.
“Nigeria continues to be fighting the operation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and individuals are speaking about diaspora voting. We’re witnesses to the malfunctioning of the BVAS within the 2023 common election.
I feel we should always work in direction of rectifying the issue as a substitute of speaking about diaspora voting.” Noting that Nigeria should have watertight expertise earlier than contemplating diaspora voting, Nyada stated: “So many foreigners are getting the Nationwide Identification Quantity (NIN) despite the stringent laws by the Nationwide Identification Administration Fee (NIMC).
When you introduce Diaspora voting right this moment in Nigeria, all black folks on the planet might determine to vote as Nigerians. We don’t have a watertight safety system to determine real Nigerians from others. So, I feel diaspora voting is for the longer term and never now.” he stated.
Little doubt, it has been a protracted look forward to Nigerians residing overseas to take part in elections again house regardless of their dedication to the expansion of the financial system, however it’s left to be seen how the tenth Nationwide Meeting intends to scale the hurdles that impeded passage of the Diaspora Voting Proper Invoice by earlier assemblies.
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