NIDO Demands Diaspora Voting Action

The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) has demanded concrete legislative action and a clear timetable for diaspora voting before the 2027 elections.

Chibuzo Ubochi, Chairman of NIDO Europe & Coordinating Chairman of NIDO Worldwide, made the call on Saturday during the NewsCentral TV Town Hall in New York.

The town hall, themed “Diaspora Voting: Promises, Politics and The Path Forward,” focused on the progress and challenges surrounding voting rights for Nigerians living abroad.

Read More : Edo Envoy Urges Unity on Diaspora Voting

Ubochi said diaspora voting was not a new conversation, noting that a proposed constitutional amendment was rejected in 2022.

He also recalled another diaspora voting bill that passed second reading in the National Assembly before it was rejected in November 2024.

“Just on that note, I will say thank you to the legislators that supported the bill at that time,” Ubochi said.

However, he questioned how long Nigerians abroad would have to wait before they could participate in elections.

“But how many readings must Nigerians in diaspora endure before we are allowed to cast a single vote?” he asked.

Ubochi warned that advocacy without a clear timeline could fail to produce the voting rights Nigerians abroad are demanding.

“Advocacy without a timetable will only become ceremony. And ceremony will never give us that ballot, that right to vote,” he said.

He identified four areas for assessing progress on diaspora voting: political will, legislative action, institutional coordination and sustained momentum.

From the perspective of Nigerians abroad who cannot currently vote in Nigerian elections, Ubochi said progress across these areas remained below expectations.

“From the perspective of Nigerians abroad, who cannot vote at present, we think the performance is below average. It’s below average,” he said.

NIDO Demands Diaspora Voting Action (NewsCentral TV) — Chibuzo Ubochi. Credit: NewsCentral TV.

Looking to the 2027 elections, Ubochi said NIDO Worldwide would take a more active position by engaging the government, political parties, candidates and Nigerians at home and abroad.

“Ahead of the 2027 elections, NIDO shall speak. For the first time, NIDO will make statements and NIDO shall speak. We will not be scared of speaking,” he said.

Ubochi said the organisation would communicate with political stakeholders while also encouraging Nigerians in the diaspora to engage Nigerians at home on issues affecting the country.

He stressed that living abroad did not make Nigerians less connected to the country or its development.

“Our message is simple, very, very simple. We are no less Nigerians because we live abroad,” he added.

He added that Nigerians in the diaspora contribute to Nigeria, defend the country’s interests abroad and support development at home.

Ubochi said NIDO and Nigerians in the diaspora had also adopted a broader position linking good governance directly to national development.

“NIDO and Nigerians in diaspora worldwide have declared that good governance is homeland development,” he said.

He said the position was consistent with NIDO’s long-standing focus on homeland and national development, adding that the organisation would no longer treat governance issues as outside its mandate.

“There is no turning back from this principle,” Ubochi said.

He rejected the idea that diaspora organisations should remain completely silent on governance because they are considered non-partisan.

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