Like wine the older the better so is Nigeria’s democratic process and as a result Nigerians living abroad will have to wait before they can realize their dream of participating in elections taking place at home, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Tuesday.
This stand was held by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who represented the President at the opening of 2015 Diaspora Day in Abuja said there are lots of steps that must be taken before the idea of allowing Nigerians living abroad to participate in the process can become a reality.
The steps, he said include amendment of legislations and strengthening of the electoral process. “To achieve this, the National Assembly will have to legislate. Diaspora voting is in Nigeria’s future because obviously there is a lot to be done including building confidence in the Nigerian electoral process,” the President who assured that the government knows the importance of Diaspora voting said.
The President added that the skills and planning required in organizing elections even at home in an atmosphere of continued suspicion of each party is itself a major challenge.
“Our electoral process is evolving and as greater confidence is built in the institutions and processes associated with it, we may then create voting opportunities for our citizens abroad in the not too distant future,” Buhari said.
