Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday explained why Nigerians in the Diaspora would not be part of the 2015 elections.
The INEC boss however, disclosed that the electoral powerhouse is currently working on how to accommodate citizens living outside the country in subsequent elections.
Jega stated this when he accepted an invitation to INEC by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to monitor voting by Indonesians in Nigeria as part of the Asian country’s parliamentary elections.
Diaspora voting by Indonesians in Nigeria will hold on Saturday, April 5, in Lagos and Sunday, April 6, in Abuja, at the country’s consular offices.
While thanking the Ambassador for inviting INEC to be part of the process, Jega noted that Nigeria had a lot to learn from Indonesia’s electoral experience.
He said, “In Nigeria, we are doing our best to open up our system for citizens in the Diaspora to be able to vote. Unfortunately, there are presently legal inhibitions, because our laws prohibit Diaspora voting.
“This is not directly so, but there is a provision in our laws that requires every eligible person to cast their ballot at the polling unit where they have registered as a voter.
“The implication is that for people in the Diaspora to participate in our elections, they will have to come home to register as voters, and subsequently cast their votes at the polling units where they registered.
“But we have made recommendations to the National Assembly for an amendment of that provision so as to allow people in the diaspora to vote; and we are hopeful that our recommendation will be taken on board.”
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