Diaspora Coalition Presses Nigerian Government for Voting Rights Before 2027 Elections

A civic group, the Nigeria Diaspora Coalition for Change, has issued a firm demand for the National Assembly to swiftly enact legislation allowing diaspora voting ahead of the 2027 general elections. This demand comes amid growing frustration among Nigerians abroad, who contribute over $20 billion annually to the national economy but remain excluded from the electoral process.

Labode Obanor, the coalition’s Strategy and Implementation Lead, described the continued disenfranchisement of Nigerians in the diaspora as unjust and unacceptable. In a statement released in Abuja, he said the government has repeatedly failed to move beyond empty rhetoric on the matter.

“Other African nations, including Ghana and Kenya, have extended voting rights to their citizens overseas. Even Somalia, despite years of conflict, recognizes this democratic principle,” Obanor stated. “Yet Nigeria offers only vague promises with no legislative commitment.”

Obanor criticized the pattern of political leaders engaging with the diaspora only during campaign seasons, touting their importance without granting them any meaningful political agency. Previous attempts to introduce diaspora voting through legislative amendments have consistently been stalled or blocked at the National Assembly, he noted.

Beyond voting rights, the coalition is also calling for broad systemic reforms. These include:

• Immediate restructuring of Nigeria’s security framework with a focus on community accountability and human rights.

• Economic policies that foster food security, curb inflation, and generate employment, rather than enriching political elites.

• Full adherence to democratic norms, including respect for press freedom, the right to peaceful protest, and the elimination of police brutality.

• A thorough constitutional overhaul to remove provisions that institutionalize religious or ethnic favoritism and weaken national unity.

Obanor stressed that these are not lofty ideals, but critical measures necessary to secure Nigeria’s future.

“We are no longer asking politely we are demanding what is constitutionally owed to us. Our exclusion from the electoral process is a strategic denial of our potential to influence change,” he said.

The coalition pledged to intensify its advocacy until substantial progress is made