NDVC advocates diaspora voting in Nigeria, submits bill to Senate

In a historic move to advance democratic participation, the Nigeria Diaspora Voting Council (NDVC) has formally presented the constitutional memorandum for the inclusion of Diaspora Voting in the electioneering process of Nigeria.

In a statement released by the Council stating that this submission at the Senate Wing of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Tuesday marks a significant milestone in the ongoing campaign by the council to secure voting rights for over 17 million Nigerians living abroad.

The proposal bundles were submitted by distinguished senior officials of NDVC, Alhaji AbdulRasak Danjuma, Hon. Omogbolahan Babawale Lukman, and Hon. Ojo Muhsin Opeyemi, and received for deliberation by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.

This landmark submission included: (a) specific sections of the Nigerian Constitution proposed for amendment, b) a memorandum outlining the proposed changes, c) the draft of the newly fine-tuned Diaspora Voting Bill, and d) a detailed rationale behind the suggested amendments.

Nigeria Diaspora Voting Bill: Journey, Milestones, Future: The right to vote is a fundamental democratic principle that the leadership of NDVC has tirelessly pursued for over a decade.

Nigerians living abroad have long wished to contribute to the democratic process of their homeland without being physically present. Under the visionary leadership of Chairman, Prince Ade Omole, the NDVC has become the driving force behind this crucial advocacy, harnessing the power of collaboration and innovation to turn this dream into a tangible reality.
“Our Diaspora represents a vast pool of untapped potential and patriotism. Their enfranchisement is not solely one of inclusiveness but of utilising their diversity of perspectives to enrich our democracy.”

The NDVC has relentlessly pursued the Diaspora Voting right, investing huge resources in planning, advocacy, and engagement with stakeholders. Since its creation, the council has organised a number of strategic meetings and consultations to ensure that every step forward is supported by good groundwork.

February 2020 was one such critical moment. The NDVC successfully held its all-under-one roof conference at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, bringing together all major stakeholders from the Presidency, National Assembly (NASS), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO).

At the end of this meeting, the Diaspora Voting Bill emerged, which was finalised for first reading at the National Assembly.
Over the past six months, the bill has been refined to incorporate amendments suggested by stakeholders, particularly INEC, by a team of constitutional lawyers led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in preparation for its submission today.

The Milestones: The journey toward the Diaspora Voting has been characterised by major milestones of great achievement and relentless determination.

After the successful Transcorp Hilton Conference, the Diaspora Voting Bill was fine-tuned and presented for the first reading in February 2020. It was re-presented and passed in July 2020, Gazetted on November 14th, 2020, passed the second reading on December 15th, 2020, and the third reading in 2021.

The Diaspora Voting Bill was, therefore, approved and tabled alongside other constitutional amendment bills for Public Hearing. The first time in the history of Nigeria!

Though the bill was voted down in March 2022 during the Constitutional Amendment Review Session, that did not deter the NDVC.

The council has drawn inspiration from other great leaders like Winston Churchill, who once said, “Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.” It is bracing itself with renewed vigour for such a critical initiative.

The NDVC is changing challenges into opportunities with prospects to enrol more influential Diaspora groups, increase the scope of the diplomatic effort, and fine-tune the Diaspora Voting Bill based on inputs from government machinery and the National Assembly.

“Struggle is built into the nature of life,” reflects Andrew Bernstein, and with this advocacy for Diaspora Voting, NDVC is firmly dedicated. Having crossed so many hurdles already, the council remains optimistic that the path ahead is doable and full of promise.

Knowing fully well that “power is never served a la carte,” the NDVC calls on all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to lend this critical support.

The council has remained quite resolute in pursuing its advocacy for Diaspora Voting rights, based on the belief that every Nigerian, irrespective of where one may be physically, must have a voice in shaping his nation’s future.

The Future is Here: In 2022, Prince Omole, the face of the Nigerian Diaspora, was appointed as the Director of the Diaspora Directorate, which played a crucial role in the success and formation of the current administration.

As part of his contribution to the administration’s “Action Plan” manifesto, he championed and ensured the inclusion of Diaspora participation in all electoral processes in Nigeria.

As the NDVC steps into this 10th assembly with continued resolve to bring Diaspora Voting to life, according to its chairman, “It is not about the vote; it’s about empowering millions of Nigerians to meaningfully participate in our democracy. Together, we shall make history.”