On Wednesday, November 20, a bill that would modify the Nigerian Constitution to permit voting by diaspora members passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
Diaspora Voting Bill Passes Its Second Reading
The proposed bill, co-sponsored by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Representative Sodeeq Abdullahi, aims to modify the 2022 Electoral Act by introducing provisions that facilitate the participation of Nigerian citizens residing abroad in electoral processes.
The bill successfully passed its second reading in July and was subsequently referred to the Committee on Electoral Matters for further consideration. After successfully passing the second reading this week, it has now been referred to the Constitution Amendment Committee for additional legislative action.
If enacted into law, the proposed amendment would graciously grant Nigerian citizens residing abroad the privilege of participating in future elections.
However, this commendable move is aimed at fostering greater inclusivity and ensuring the active engagement of our esteemed citizens living overseas in the democratic process.
