FG Perfects Plans For Diaspora-Voting

Ahead of 2023 elections, the federal government has revealed that plans have been put in place to ensure the smooth takeoff of Diaspora voting.

The Nigerian Immigration Service revealed this on Wednesday at the one day public hearing on the Bill for an Act to repeal the Electoral Act No. 6 2010 (as amended) and enact thé Independent National Electoral Commission Act 2020, organized by the joint committee of the National Assembly.

The Service said that it has put in place systems to make the exercise hitchfree.

To this end, it called on the leadership of the National Assembly to make relevant laws that would empower it to properly monitor the country’s borders during general elections.

It said this has become necessary as its operatives in some states had intercepter Foreign nationals from neighbouring West African Countries in possession of the INEC-issued voter card.

The affected states are Kano, Katsina and Borno where the NIS said nationals from Niger and Chad Republic were intercepted with the Nigerian voter card.

NIS also called on the National Assembly to make laws empowering it to withdraw voter card from persons found to be non-Nigerians.

According to the service, the participation of foreign nationals in elections compromises Nigeria’s electoral security and integrity.

This is as it asked for a system to verify citizens ahead of election day to ensure that only Nigerians are allowed to vote during elections.