Stakeholders at a town hall in New York have renewed calls for the National Assembly to pass the Diaspora Voting Bill and allow Nigerians living abroad to participate in the country’s elections.
The stakeholders also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to prepare a dedicated register for eligible Nigerians in the diaspora ahead of future elections.
The demands were made at the third News Central Diaspora Town Hall, themed “The Diaspora Voting Bill: Promise, Politics and the Path Forward.” The forum brought together political actors, diaspora advocates, community leaders, academics and young Nigerians.
President and founder of Save Nigeria Group USA, Stephen Osemwegie, questioned the prolonged delay in passing the bill and whether political considerations were responsible. He argued that Nigerians should retain their right to participate in choosing the country’s leaders regardless of where they live.
Special Envoy on Gender Affairs Education to the United Nations, Edward Ilechukwu, said the debate had continued for too long and called on INEC to establish a dedicated diaspora voters’ register to create a formal framework for participation.
NIDO Europe Chairman and Coordinating Chairman of NIDO Worldwide, Chibuzo Ubochi, described diaspora voting as a long-running campaign marked by years of advocacy and limited progress. He called for clear timelines for legislative action, while Omoyele Sowore said the diaspora represented a significant voting population whose participation could influence Nigeria’s political landscape.
Participants also discussed the economic contributions of Nigerians abroad, particularly remittances, and the practical challenges of implementing diaspora voting, including registration, identity verification, electoral infrastructure and funding. The National Assembly rejected a proposed constitutional amendment on diaspora voting in 2022, while another bill reportedly reached second reading before being rejected in November 2024.
