The Nigerian Senate is reportedly reconsidering a proposed bill that would grant Nigerian nationals living abroad the right to participate in the country’s general elections.
The move comes amid the deluge of controversial elections that have characterized the Nigerian electoral system for years, with no plan in place to address it.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti) disclosed this during a virtual discussion hosted by the Engage Diaspora Foundation in collaboration with the Directorate of Diaspora and International Affairs.
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The dialogue, themed “A Pivotal Step Toward Achieving Diaspora Voting Right,” focused on the bill that aims to amend the 1999 Constitution to enable Nigerians in other countries to vote in national elections.
Bamidele revealed that the bill had undergone its first reading and was scheduled for a second reading in the Senate.
The move comes after the 9th Senate rejected a similar diaspora voting bill in March 2022. The previous bill sought to extend voting rights to Nigerians outside the country, addressing the concerns and desires of the diaspora community.
In his presentation, Bamidele assured Nigerians in the diaspora that the 10th Senate would make additional efforts to pass the bill this time. He stated, “We will do our best to make sure that this time around, we achieve your desire in this regard.”
Nigeria has a significant diaspora population, with millions of Nigerians living abroad. The top ten countries with Nigerian populations include the USA, the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, South Africa, Ireland, China, and the Netherlands.
Will their votes count?
However, questions have been raised about the credibility and impact of diaspora votes. The Nigerian electoral system has faced challenges such as malpractices and violence, leading to a lack of trust among the electorate. This is despite the 2022 Electoral Act, believed to be the game changer will bring sanity to the system.
In 2023 alone, a high number of electoral cases, including the presidential election, was decided by the court – a situation that pro-democracy advocates say thwarts the will of the people.
However, proponents of diaspora voting argue that extending the right to Nigerians abroad is essential for a more inclusive democratic process. Still, skeptics raise concerns about the effectiveness and impact of diaspora votes, considering the existing challenges within the Nigerian electoral system.
As the Senate revisits the diaspora voting bill, it remains to be seen how the concerns surrounding the credibility of elections will be addressed.