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.
“Introducing diaspora voting will require a lot of effort to be successful,” he said. “Nigeria is still struggling with the operation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and people are talking about diaspora voting.”
“We are witnesses to the malfunctioning of the BVAS in the 2023 general election. I think we should work toward rectifying the problem instead of talking about diaspora voting.”
He raised concerns about the risks of electoral fraud if Nigerians in the diaspora are allowed to vote. He said there is the possibility of foreigners obtaining Nigerian identification cards, which could be exploited for fraudulent voting.
“So many foreigners are getting the National Identification Number, NIN, in spite of the stringent regulations by the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC,” Nyada said.
“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.”
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, senior staff reporter and columnist with WAP is a Nigerian-based writer and content developer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Her interests include reading, writing, researching and graphic designing.
Latest posts by By Ezinwanne Onwuka (Senior Reporter) (see all)
- Former Winger Finidi George Appointed Super Eagles Coach - April 30, 2024
- Edo Governor Announces N70,000 Minimum Wage for Civil Servants - April 30, 2024
- Air Force Strikes Notorious Bandit Camp in Sokoto, Eliminate 3 Commanders - April 29, 2024
previous
Soludo’s Youth Adviser, Omenugha, Receives EU Trainers on Joint Renewable Energy Project
next
