Nigerians living in different parts of the world, all things being equal, may vote in the 2023 general elections.
This is because a bill seeking to accommodate them vote from their abode has passed for a second reading at the House of Representatives.
The bill was sponsored by the Chairperson of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Rep. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, and 15 other lawmakers.
The bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, Cap. 23 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The bill also seeks to amend section 77 Subsection (2) of the Principal Act to now read ” Every citizen of Nigeria, who has attained the age of eighteen years residing within or outside Nigeria at the time of registration of voters for purposes of election to a Legislative house, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter for that election.”
Also, a new Subsection 3 will also be added to read thus “(3) To be eligible to vote in accordance with Subsection 2 above, the citizen of Nigeria must fulfill the following conditions: i) be at least 18 years old; ii) hold a valid Nigerian International Passport; (ii) must have lived in Nigeria for a period of at least five (5) years from a minimum age of ten (10) years old”.
Also, the person must be legally resident in the Country of residence for at least 12 months. Similarly, Section 117 Subsection (2) of the Principal Act will be amended to read “Every citizen of Nigeria, who has attained the age of eighteen years residing within or outside Nigeria at the time of registration of voters for purposes of election to a Legislative house, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter for that election.”
Vanguard reports that a new Subsection 3 will also be added to allow citizens to be eligible to vote in accordance with Subsection 2 above, but they must fulfill the following conditions be at least 18 years old and hold a valid Nigerian International Passport.
They must have also lived in Nigeria for a period of at least 5 years from a minimum age of 10 years old, and be legally resident in the Country of residence for at least 12 months.
The bill now awaits public hearing at a date yet to be determined by the relevant Committee of the House.
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