Opinion: Nigerians abroad send billions home. They deserve a vote
This is an opinion piece. The views are those of the Jogos Editorial Team.
On 16 January 2027, Nigerians will choose a president. Millions of Nigerians will not be able to take part, not because they are not citizens, but because they live abroad.
Nigerian law does not currently allow voting from outside the country. The Electoral Act 2026 signed by President Bola Tinubu contains no provision for it, and a bill to amend the Constitution to allow diaspora voting has not been passed, Legit.ng reported.
Why the diaspora should vote
They are citizens. A Nigerian nurse in Manchester or engineer in Houston holds the same green passport as a voter in Kano. Citizenship should not end at the airport.
They support the country. Nigerians abroad send billions of dollars home every year, paying school fees, hospital bills and rent for family members, and investing in property and businesses. The chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has argued that diaspora investment in sectors like healthcare and technology makes the case for voting rights.
Many intend to return. Policies made in Abuja shape the country they will come home to, and the one their parents and children live in today.
Others already do it. Several African countries, including Senegal, Cabo Verde and Mozambique, let citizens abroad vote. It can be done.
The objections, and the answers
Critics worry about cost, fraud and logistics. These are real concerns, but they are reasons to design the system carefully, not reasons to say no. Voting could begin at embassies and high commissions in the countries with the largest Nigerian communities, using the same accreditation technology INEC uses at home.
What needs to happen
The National Assembly should pass the constitutional amendment for diaspora voting, and INEC should be given the time and money to prepare for it well before the next election after 2027.
Until then, a large share of Nigeria’s citizens will keep supporting the country with their money, but not with their vote.
Do you live abroad? Tell us whether you would vote: editor@jogosmedia.com.
