The chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Legal Education Committee, Auta Nyada, has cast doubt on the feasibility of allowing Nigerians living abroad to vote in elections, citing potential security risks.
“Diaspora voting is actually a good idea, but for me, I don’t think that Nigeria has reached the stage for diaspora voting,” said the chairman. He argued that Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should focus on addressing the loopholes observed in the 2023 general election first before experimenting with diaspora voting.
He raised concerns about the risks of electoral fraud if Nigerians in the diaspora are allowed to vote as there is the possibility of foreigners obtaining Nigerian identification cards, which could be exploited for fraudulent voting.
“If you introduce diaspora voting today in Nigeria, all black people in the world could decide to vote as Nigerians. We don’t have a watertight security system to identify genuine Nigerians from others. I think diaspora voting is for the future and not now,” Nyada said.
The chairman’s remarks add to the debate about the security of Nigeria’s electoral system and the enfranchisement of Nigerians in the diaspora. Supporters of diaspora voting argue that it would allow millions of Nigerians abroad to participate in their country’s democratic process. Opponents, like Nyada, however, fear that it could open doors to electoral fraud and manipulation.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
