Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to establish a framework that would enable Nigerians living abroad to vote in national elections, saying their economic contributions justify their inclusion in the country’s democratic process.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Falana said: “Today, remittances from citizens abroad are sometimes higher than the money we make from oil and gas.
“If they are remitting millions of dollars that go a long way to improve the economy, they also have a right to demand participation in electing the country’s leaders.”
The prominent rights activist stressed that Nigerians in the Diaspora play a vital role in sustaining the economy and therefore deserve a voice in choosing the nation’s leadership.
He also advocated a transparent and merit-driven process in appointing the Chairman and members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), maintaining that such an approach would strengthen the commission’s independence and enhance public trust.
Falana cited the 2008 Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais panel report, which proposed that all vacancies in INEC, including those of resident electoral commissioners, should be publicly advertised.
He noted that the method, already being implemented in some African countries like Lesotho and Botswana, would subject the selection process to scrutiny and attract competent candidates.
