Bill to Amend Electoral Law for Diaspora Voting Scales Second Reading

A bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act to enable Nigerians in the diaspora to participate in voting has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.

The bill, co-sponsored by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Sodeeq Abdullahi, aims to provide a legal framework for diaspora voting.

It underscores the importance of including millions of Nigerians living abroad in the country’s electoral process.

Initially passed for a second reading in July and referred to the Committee on Electoral Matters, the bill was reconsidered on Tuesday and subsequently referred to the Constitution Amendment Committee for further legislative action.

The bill’s proponents argue that diaspora voting is essential for ensuring that all Nigerians, regardless of location, have a say in governance.

However, elections in Nigeria have been marred by allegations of rigging and criminality. After the recent Edo Governorship elections, Martins Obono, Executive Director of the TAP Initiative, accusedNigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of enabling and actively rigging the 2024 Edo State governorship election.

Also, the Ondo State governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi, has refused to accept the results of the recently concluded election, pointing accusing fingers at the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as engaging in “criminality” in the conduct of the election.

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