Politics
Council Applauds Senate On Diaspora Voting
The Nigeria Diaspora Voting Council (NDVC) has applauded the Senate for its consistency in ensuring that the Diaspora voting bill is passed into law.
The Chairman of NDVC, Mr Ade Omole, while speaking with newsmen particularly thanked Senator Kabiru Gaya, Chairman, Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for his strong support for Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Gaya (APC-Kano South) recently assured that Nigerians in the Diaspora would be able to vote from their countries of residence during elections, once the constitution was amended.
“The issue has been discussed. We certainly don’t have problems with the people in Diaspora voting for the president or governors they want or whichever position from their countries of residence.
“I know it is also a constitutional issue, but we may have to amend the Constitution to ensure that. “When the issue of amendment of the Constitution comes up, that issue I know will be inserted in the amendment, but it has to be approved,” Gaya said.
Omole said the benefits of passing the Diaspora voting bill, which passed second reading at the House of Representatives on December 15, 2020, into law could not be over-emphasised.
He said it was disheartening that out of over 25 million Nigerians in the Diaspora, according to World Bank 2017 estimates, many had to incur huge travel costs and dedicate time travelling home to exercise their franchise during general elections.
This, he said, should not be the case in this generation considering that Nigeria is the giant of Africa.
According to him, the over 25 million Nigerians resident abroad make considerable contributions to the country’s economy through financial inflow and should be allowed to vote from their countries of residence during elections.
Omole recalled that in 2017 alone, 22 billion dollars was recorded as gross remittances into the country from Nigerians in the Diaspora.
This, he said, was 16.4 per cent higher than what was obtained in 2016, adding that in 2018, Diaspora remittances to Nigeria equalled 25 billion dollars, representing 6.1 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“The 2019 total is estimated to be close to 30 billion dollars including remittances made through unofficial channels,” Omole said.
He therefore stressed that the process to enable Nigerians in the Diaspora vote during elections should go beyond party politics and affiliations.
Omole, while noting that Diaspora voting was already being practised in other democratic countries, said it was a serious matter that should not be politicised. He added that the issue must go beyond sloganeering and translated into a practical and achievable project in the interest of all.
He further said that there was, therefore, need for all critical stakeholders to demonstrate readiness and articulate a reasonable roadmap that would eventually lead to the electoral franchise of Nigerians in the Diaspora.
This, he said, was especially so because Nigerians in the Diaspora make the fifth largest remittances worldwide after India, Mexico, China and the Philippines.
He added that there were 115 countries world over that allowed voting by their Diaspora citizens, out of which 28 of such countries were found in Africa.
Omole said it was important for Nigeria as the giant of Africa and the future of Africa, to entrench Diaspora voting in its electoral process.
He assured that the council would continue working in collaboration with National Assembly, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), INEC, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) and other critical stakeholders to articulate the modalities for Diaspora voting.
Politics
Alleged Coup: Protests Rock N’Assembly As Detained Officers’ Children, Wives Demand Justice
Scores of children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, demanding a speedy trial and the release of the accused officials.
The protesters who gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly complex, moved in a slow procession while clutching placards with inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Our Daddies,” “Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” and “Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough.”
Amid tears and trembling voices, the children appealed for justice and access to their detained fathers, many of whom they said they had not seen for months.
The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja attended by no fewer than 20 wives and several children of the detained officers, including a two-month-old baby.
The families were accompanied by human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju and activist Omoyele Sowore.
At the briefing, the families lamented that the officers had been held for over 160 days without trial or contact with their relatives, describing the situation as a violation of their fundamental rights.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Memuna Bashiru said the prolonged detention had thrown their households into uncertainty and emotional distress, noting that while allegations had been widely publicised, families remained in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.
The arrest of the indicted officers was first announced on October 4, 2025, by the then Director of Defense Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who disclosed that 16 officers were taken into custody for alleged breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.
However, an interim investigation later suggested the existence of a clandestine network of officers, allegedly coordinated by a senior Army officer, which had begun preliminary planning for a coup.
According to the report, the alleged plot involved surveillance of key national assets, including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and major international airports, with October 25, 2025, cited as the planned date for the operation.
Those reportedly in custody include Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.
The alleged plot, according to findings, targeted senior government officials, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In a statement issued yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, said the exercise would take place in all wards and designated centres nationwide.
He called on existing members to update their records, while encouraging new entrants to join the party through the digital platform.
“As the electronic membership registration exercise resumes in all wards and designated locations nationwide, we urge existing members to validate their membership while new members are encouraged to register and join the progressive family,” Mr Morka said.
According to him, eligibility for registration is limited to individuals aged 18 and above who possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN).
The party said the initiative is part of efforts to modernise its operations by transitioning to a digital database that would enhance record accuracy and accessibility.
Mr Morka noted that the e-registration would “digitise the party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of records, and enhance efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions.”
He added that the move is also aimed at promoting internal democracy within the party and strengthening its commitment to democratic innovation.
The APC had previously introduced electronic registration as part of broader reforms to streamline its membership system and improve organisational efficiency.
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