The National Association of Nigerian Students in Diaspora (NANS-Diaspora) has urged the Federal Government to fast-track constitutional amendments that would allow Nigerians living abroad to vote in national elections, starting from 2027.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, NANS-Diaspora President, Chris Fayomi, stressed that millions of Nigerians in the diaspora contribute significantly to the country’s economy. He highlighted that annual remittances from abroad have exceeded $23 billion, amounting to nearly 5% of Nigeria’s GDP. Despite this, Nigerians living abroad are currently denied the right to vote.
Fayomi described this situation as unfair and emphasized that economic contributors deserve a say in leadership decisions. He pointed out that several African countries already support diaspora voting and believes Nigeria should adopt similar practices to empower its citizens abroad.
He added that enabling diaspora voting would not only promote fairness but also deepen democratic values, improve transparency, and encourage accountability. According to him, it would also ensure that Nigerians outside the country play an active role in shaping the nation’s future.
Fayomi called on key institutions, including the National Assembly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), and the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) worldwide, to prioritize legal reforms and logistics needed to make diaspora voting a reality.
He reaffirmed NANS-Diaspora’s commitment to mobilizing students and young Nigerian professionals around the world to support these electoral changes and boost civic participation from abroad.
