Why We Must Implement Diaspora Voting System By Hon. Alex Obi-Osuala

Diaspora votes must count in Nigeria. This is my position/opinion. If not because of the dubious nature of the officials in the government of Nigeria, one does not see any reason why Nigerians in Diaspora shouldn’t be voting as done in most countries of the world. Their votes would have been making a great difference, and give them a sense of belonging and participation in the affairs of the nation.

Abike Dabiri Erewa, who was a brilliant presenter during her days with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), came into politics and lost the ideal we know of her, if not, as the Chairperson and CEO of National Diaspora Commission and a Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Diaspora Affairs, she would have written her name in gold by championing Diaspora voters movement. Rather they prefer votes cast in Nigeria that is very prone to rigging.

Nigerians in Diaspora I believe would turn out greatly during elections and vote, they will vote because they have relations at home who are of the direct recipient of bad governments in Nigeria, and it’s taking a lot of toll in their pockets.

Secondly, most want to come home and reside if the government is in the hands of a good leader with better security, power supply, and infrastructural policy. Most are tired of living abroad but bad leadership kept them away. So they will be the first to come out and vote.

Thirdly, the numbers of Nigerians living abroad are in millions, and since they will be part of the voting system, with a high rate of registered voters, and turn out, they will certainly be the decider of winners of elections in the country.

Diasporas votes would be better monitored by the government of such countries and their media network. No one can rig such votes easily, because all voters are properly registered, documented and are in the system of such nations.


Public and exit polls in such foreign countries during an election can easily indicate who garnered highest number of votes. Diaspora votes if allowed will be the fastest way to authentic votes and reduce massive rigging in Nigerian elections especially those votes cast abroad

I strongly believe that it’s a deliberate policy of the government not to sanction or implement Diaspora voting system just to have control of all votes cast in Nigeria with aim of rigging them.

I challenge Nigerians to rise up and request Diaspora voting system as it is done in most countries of the world. After all, Diasporas are citizens who contribute massively both financially, materially and intellectually to the growth and development of the country.

According to World Bank report, Nigerians in Diaspora sent home more than $22 billion US Dollars in 2017. This is just an official amount as recorded; knowing Nigerians very well the amount sent undocumented would triple this official figure.

So why would a group of citizens, that sent such a massive amount of money home every year, is denied voting in choosing who leads their country?

Hon. Alex Obi-Osuala, National Publicity Secretary, Otu Nkwado Atiku na Obi (ONTO), An Igbo Volunteer Voter’s Movement to Elect Atiku Abubakar and  Peter Obi as President and Vice 2019. The writer is also a member of Nigerian In Diaspora Organization (NIDO)