Stakeholders at the News Central Diaspora Town Hall have called for the inclusion of Nigerians in the diaspora in future elections, insisting that their massive financial contributions to the country’s economy should translate into political participation.
The participants said granting voting rights to Nigerians abroad would deepen democracy and strengthen national development, as remittances from the diaspora continue to play a vital role in stabilising the economy.
A Councilor, Hephzibah Olugbemi highlighted the economic power of Nigerians living overseas, noting that “in July alone, $553 million was remitted to Nigeria.”
She urged that Nigerians abroad “make their voices heard, not just with their money but with their vote.”
Another speaker, Bobby Digi Olisa, President of Nigerians in the Diaspora New York State, said the government must create infrastructure that allows seamless participation by Nigerians abroad.
“We need NIN and BVN registration. As the Diaspora invests billions into the motherland, they should surely have the right to vote,” he said.
Also, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in Europe (NIDO), Chibuzor Ubochi, declared that “Diaspora voting is our right, not a favor,” adding that the contributions of Nigerians abroad have become indispensable to the nation’s survival.
According to Ubochi, diaspora remittances reached about $19.5 billion in 2023 and are projected to hit $26 billion by 2025.
He explained that “these inflows consistently exceed Nigeria’s oil revenues and contribute substantially to the federal budget, highlighting the diaspora’s outsized role in the national economy.”
As the 2027 general elections approach, speakers at the event urged the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to consider adopting secure electronic voting systems that would enable Nigerians abroad to participate.
They argued that empowering the diaspora politically would complement their economic contributions and promote inclusive governance.
