Senator Ned Munir Nwoko’s Diaspora Voting Bill was presented for the first reading in the Senate on Tuesday, November 14.
The bill, seeking to alter sections 48, 49, 71, 72, 77, and 117 of the 1999 Constitution, aims to provide for diaspora voting. It proposes an increase in Senatorial districts from the current 109 to 113, with four designated to the Americas (South America, North America, and Canada), Europe, Asia and Australia, and Africa. The House of Representatives constituencies would also rise from 360 to 376, with 16 new constituencies allocated to diaspora Senatorial Districts. The bill outlines voting qualifications and eligibility for Nigerian citizens in the diaspora.
To ensure that Nigerian citizens in the diaspora exercise their right to vote, Senator Ned Nwoko of Delta North, emphasized the need to create an enabling environment that is not manipulated to suit individuals and partisan interests.
He asserted that diaspora voting is a new wave of electoral reform embraced by many progressive nations worldwide. Despite Nigeria being the giant of Africa and the most populated black nation globally, it has yet to adopt diaspora voting. Nigerians in the diaspora are eager to actively participate in the elections and governance of their country.
At the time of this report, other bills submitted by the distinguished Senator for listing and presentation before the Senate for the first reading include:
▪︎Waste Management and Malaria Eradication Agency.
▪︎A bill for an Act to Repeal the Coroners Act CAP C17 laws of the Federal 2004 and Re-Enact the Coroners Systems Act and other Related Matters 2023
▪︎A bill for an Act to Establish the Nigerian Youth Entrepreneurs Grant Scheme with an Agency for Oversight.
▪︎A bill for an Act to Establish laws governing the election of Nigerians into the ECOWAS Parliament.
