Nigerian senate to begin debating bill on diaspora voting next week as part of constitutional review

NIGERIA'S senate is to begin discussing a bill that will grant diasporans voting rights later this week as part of the ongoing review of the 1999 constitution according to the senate majority leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

Two years in 2021, the National Assembly debated diaspora voting rights as part of its constitutional review but when the matter was pit to a vote. lawmakers voted against enfranchising diasporans. Now, that constitutional review is on the table again, disapora voting will once more be looked at.

According to Senator Bamidele, the resolve of the National Assembly to reconsider diaspora voting rights and other related issues affecting diasporans should not be under-estimated. Justifying the resolve of the National Assembly to review the 1999 constitution, he said the diaspora voting rights would form part of the ongoing constitution review.

Senator Bamidele added:  “Let me tell you some good news. Not that we are trying to bring the bill back. The bill is already on the floor of the 10th senate. Exactly two weeks ago, we had the first reading of the bill. It has already been scheduled for a second reading.

“Definitely, as the leader of the senate, I can assure you that we will consider the second reading of the bill this week. After this stage, it will be referred to the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.

“As it presently is, the constitution review committee is chaired by the deputy president of the senate. As the leader of the senate, I am the vice chairman, so you can be rest assured that I am with you in this effort.

 “I see this fight as a generational fight. It is about your children. It is also about ensuring greater inclusion in our electoral process. We cannot be interested in what is coming from you but deny your right to vote.

“Diaspora voting is a right that must be recognised in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. After the passage of the bill, it will be taken to the House of Representatives for concurrence.”

He explained that after the concurrence by the House of Representatives, the bill would be transmitted to the 36 state houses of assembly and two-thirds of them must approve it for it to become effective. Senator Bamidele then urged the stakeholders to engage governors of the 36 states of the federation and speakers of the houses of assembly to ensure the passage of the bill into law.