2027: Bill on diaspora voting passes 2nd reading

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday passed a bill to allow for diaspora voting in Nigerian elections.

This bill followed agitations by stakeholders clamouring for amendment of the constitution to allow Nigerians outside the country to participate in subsequent elections.

The bill, co-sponsored by the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen and Sodeeq Abdullahi, seeks to amend the 2022 Electoral Act and provide opportunities for those in the Diaspora to vote.

The bill was passed for a second reading in July this year.

It was referred to the Committee on Electoral Matters for further legislative action.

However, after scaling the second reading, it has been referred to the constitution amendment committee for further legislative action.

It will be recalled that earlier in the year, the speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas had assured stakeholders during the National Diaspora Day event, organised by the Nigeria Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to the Speaker, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Benjamin Kalu, “the Speaker of the House of Representatives is sponsoring a bill to enable diaspora voting by the 2027 election cycle”.

Passing the bill into law will be a big boost to the thriving diaspora community that has contributed immensely to the our local economy