Diaspora (Commonwealth Union) _ In a move that could reshape Nigeria’s electoral landscape, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has signaled strong support for granting voting rights to Nigerians living abroad. APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, revealed on Monday that the party is working closely with the National Assembly to ensure that diaspora voting becomes a reality before the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in Paris at the inauguration of the party’s newly formed executive committee in France, Ganduje expressed the APC’s commitment to expanding political inclusion for Nigerians across the globe. “We are working with the National Assembly and relevant agencies to make diaspora voting possible,” he declared as part of his address to the growing overseas chapter.
According to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, the former Kano State governor stressed that the APC’s internal stability and growing appeal were attracting defectors from opposition parties nationwide. He credited this momentum to the reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and renewed governance focus.
“There is peace in the APC, unlike the internal crises we see in other parties. Because of this enabling environment, many prominent political figures senators, House of Reps and State Assembly members are joining our ranks,” Ganduje said. “We are respecting our constitution, promoting internal democracy, and expanding our influence both at home and abroad.”
The APC France chapter’s newly installed chairperson, Hajjiya Amina Baba-Suzuki, echoed Ganduje’s sentiments, highlighting the dual economic and political roles of Nigerians in the diaspora. She urged the party’s national leadership to invest more in overseas chapters, describing them as powerful tools for advocacy, mobilisation, and representation.
“Our people abroad are not just sending remittances they are shaping Nigeria’s image globally,” Baba-Suzuki noted. “We need stronger institutional support so we can mobilise more effectively and represent the APC proudly.”
For years, Nigerians in the diaspora have pushed for the legal right to vote, arguing that political exclusion undermines democratic equity. While their economic contributions remain vital, with remittances topping $20 billion annually, the absence of a framework for overseas voting has long been considered a democratic shortcoming.
Progress on this front has been slow. A significant breakthrough came in late 2024, when House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Kano lawmaker Sadiq Abdullahi co-sponsored a bill to allow Nigerians abroad to participate in elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The bill has yet to progress beyond its second reading but is widely seen as a landmark proposal with bipartisan implications.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, Ganduje voiced confidence that the APC would not only continue to grow but would also deliver a second term for President Tinubu. “The reforms are working. There’s more funding for capital projects, and local governments and state governors are feeling the impact,” he said. “With the support of our members abroad, we will take this vision even further.”
Should diaspora voting materialize, it would mark a major evolution in Nigeria’s democratic journey and one that the APC appears eager to lead.
