The Diaspora Voting Bill, co-sponsored by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Sodeeq Abdullahi, has advanced to the next stage in Nigeria’s House of Representatives after passing its second reading.
The bill aims to amend the 2022 Electoral Act to grant voting rights to Nigerians living abroad, a right currently not available to them unlike in some other nations.
The initiative was driven by calls for greater inclusivity in elections, encouraging Nigerian expatriates to participate in the electoral process.
Sodeeq Abdullahi, in leading the debate, emphasized that the legislation would particularly benefit Nigerians residing outside the country by eliminating the need for them to travel home to cast their votes.
Following unanimous approval, the bill has been referred to the House Committee on Electoral Matters for further consideration.
