Falana, Ubani Others Disagree on Diaspora Voting in 2015

                   

There were disagreements yesterday among civil society and non-governmental organisations as some prominent lawyers expressed differing views on plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote in the 2015 general election.
While some supported the idea, others rejected it, describing it as a misplaced priority.

INEC's Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had on December 16 called an amendment of Sections 77(2) and 117(2) of the 1999 Constitution to allow Nigerians in the Diaspora of voting age to participate in the country’s electoral process.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Diaspora voting, which is based  on the universality of the right to vote, was first introduced in 1924 called postal voting, while postal votes were available for overseas service personnel and students in colonial Malaya (now Malaysia).

It was also in Namibia in 1989 and South Africa in 1994 for their citizens abroad.

Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) said in Lagos that the initiative was a laudable one that should be given a try.

He advised the commission to put the necessary machinery in motion to actualise the Diaspora voting in 2015.

Falana said Nigerians in the Diaspora were contributing immensely to the economy through foreign remittances, and therefore, should have a say on how the country is being governed.

“There is a powerful demand by Nigerians outside the country to participate in its affairs.
“Other African countries that got independence much more after Nigeria have recognised the right of their citizens in the Diaspora to vote wherever they are located," he said.

Falana suggested that elections could be conducted in the various countries where Nigeria has embassies, while those living in countries with  no embassies should go to the nearest country to exercise their voting rights.

But a former National Secretary of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN), advised INEC to concentrate first on conducting a credible election in the country.
“I will suggest that INEC should leave the issue of Nigerians in Diaspora for now and ensure we get our act together.

“We cannot cross all the bridges at the same time; let us establish a culture of having a free, fair and credible election first before any other thing," he said.
Supporting Adesina’s position, the Chairman of Ikeja branch of the NBA, Mr. Onyekachi Ubani, described the call for out-of-country voting as unnecessary for now.

“INEC should forget about voters outside the country because it is a misplaced priority.

“We need to put our house in order by organising a credible election before thinking of bringing in voters from outside," he said.

Also speaking, a law teacher, Mr Wahab Shittu, said Diaspora voting would place more responsibility on the country’s electoral body.

Shittu, from the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, said INEC needed early preparations and adequate manpower to successfully conduct the 2015 elections.

“To add extra burden of Diaspora voting into the equation will be very difficult," Shittu noted.

For a human rights lawyer, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, Diaspora voting is a fine idea, but said the country was not yet ripe for it.

Mumuni, who is the Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), said INEC lacked the manpower and technology to supervise voting outside the shores of the country.