Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has accused some Nigerians living in the Diaspora of aiding corrupt politicians and enabling crimes in Nigeria, questioning their readiness to participate responsibly in the country’s democratic process.

Speaking on the proposed Diaspora Voting Bill at News Central’s Town Hall meeting in New York, Sowore said Nigerians abroad could not demand political participation while ignoring the role some of them allegedly play in facilitating the activities of corrupt Nigerians at home.

“We are also complicit in some of the crimes that are happening at home. Is it not you Diaspora people that help them buy lands and properties when they steal money from Nigerians?” he asked.

Sowore argued that the large Nigerian Diaspora represents a significant voting bloc whose participation could shape the country’s political landscape if they are eventually granted voting rights. He, however, challenged Nigerians abroad to become more politically conscious and deliberate about the kind of leadership they want for the country.

Sowore also claimed that some Nigerians in the Diaspora were corrupt and were not respected by politicians, linking this to what he described as inefficiency within the community.

The Town Hall was the third annual edition held under the theme, “The Diaspora Voting Bill: Promise, Politics and the Path Forward”, bringing together political voices, Diaspora advocates, community leaders, academics, professionals and young Nigerians to discuss the proposed legislation and the long-running campaign for Diaspora voting rights.

Special Envoy on Gender Affairs Education to the United Nations and Peace Ambassador, Edward Ilechukwu, said the debate over Diaspora voting had continued for too long.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to develop a dedicated Diaspora voters’ register to provide a formal mechanism for Nigerians living abroad to participate in elections.

On his part, Associate Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Leaders of Africa Institute, Professor Jelili Adebiyi, highlighted the importance of Diaspora remittances to Nigerian households and the contribution of Nigerians living abroad to the Nigerian economy. However, speakers argued that economic contribution should not be the sole basis for recognising Nigerians in the Diaspora.

Chairman of NIDO Europe and Coordinating Chairman of NIDO Worldwide, Chibuzo Ubochi, described the campaign for Diaspora voting as a long-running struggle characterised by years of advocacy and limited delivery. He questioned whether the political will existed to translate the existing discussions into action.

Ubochi also pointed to the fragmented nature of the Nigerian Diaspora and stressed the importance of establishing clear timelines for advocacy efforts. “We are no less Nigerians because we live abroad,” he said.

The debate also extended to younger Nigerians living abroad. Founder of ‘Nigerians in New York’, Daniel Jayeoba, questioned what Nigeria expects its relationship with citizens abroad to look like, warning that indifference could become a greater danger to the relationship between Nigeria and its Diaspora.

Other issues raised at the Town Hall were the cost and logistics of implementing Diaspora voting. The debate raised practical issues around voter registration, identity verification, electoral infrastructure, funding and the ability of relevant institutions to administer elections across different countries. The discussion therefore moved beyond the question of whether Diaspora voting should be introduced to the requirements for implementing such a system.

Stephen Osemwegie, President and Founder of Save Nigeria Group USA, called on the National Assembly to pass the Diaspora Voting Bill, arguing that Nigerians abroad should have the opportunity to participate directly in choosing the country’s leaders. (The Sun)