I’m not against Diaspora voting if NASS supports it – Buhari

President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, has said that he was not against Nigerians in diaspora voting during elections.

However, he noted that the National Assembly was required to pass relevant laws to give legal backing to Diaspora voting.

Buhari made the statement in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

The President spoke in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday during a meeting with the Executive Committee members of the Nigerian Community in Ethiopia.

The NICE members were led by David Omozuafoh to the meeting, which was organised by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Buhari said, ”I have said it severally that I am not against it (Diaspora voting). However, you will need to convince the National Assembly to amend the relevant laws to make Diaspora voting a reality.”

The Electoral Act has no provision for Diaspora voting, though the Independent National Electoral Commission claimed it has the capacity to conduct elections simultaneously in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.