Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele disclosed on Monday that the Nigerian Senate is contemplating a proposed bill allowing Nigerian nationals living abroad to participate in the country’s general elections.
During a virtual discussion hosted by Engage Diaspora Foundation, in collaboration with the Directorate of Diaspora and International Affairs of his office, Bamidele stated,
“It passed the first reading and was scheduled for the second. Definitely, I can assure you, as the leader of the Senate, we will be considering the second reading of the bill during this week.”
This move comes after the 9th Senate rejected a similar bill on diaspora voting in March 2022. The proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution aims to grant voting rights to Nigerians residing outside the country.
Bamidele, the chief host at the event, assured Nigerians in the diaspora that the 10th Senate is committed to the bill’s passage this time.
He emphasized, “We will do our best to make sure that this time around, we achieve your desire in this regard.”
With millions of Nigerians living abroad, the top ten countries with significant Nigerian populations include the USA (380,785), UK (190,000), Germany (56,000), Italy (71,000), Canada (51,800), France (30,000), South Africa (30,000), Ireland (17,542), China (10,000), and the Netherlands (9,453).
| Sahara Reporters
