L
LequteMan
Guest
Prominent lawyers on Tuesday expressed differing views on plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote in the 2015 general elections.
INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had on Dec.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.
Mr Femi Falana (SAN) told newsmen in Lagos that the initiative was a laudable one that should be given a try.
“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."
Falana suggested that elections could be conducted in the various countries where Nigeria had embassies, while those living in countries which had no embassies should go to the nearest country to exercise their voting rights.
But Mr Dele Adesina (SAN), a former National Secretary of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), 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 the 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, Mr Onyekachi Ubani, the Chairman of Ikeja Branch of NBA, 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, who is of 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."
For a human rights lawyer, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, Diaspora voting was 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), an NGO, said INEC lacked the manpower and technology to supervise voting outside the shores of the country.
INEC’s Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, had on Dec.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.
Mr Femi Falana (SAN) told newsmen in Lagos that the initiative was a laudable one that should be given a try.
“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."
Falana suggested that elections could be conducted in the various countries where Nigeria had embassies, while those living in countries which had no embassies should go to the nearest country to exercise their voting rights.
But Mr Dele Adesina (SAN), a former National Secretary of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), 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 the 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, Mr Onyekachi Ubani, the Chairman of Ikeja Branch of NBA, 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, who is of 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."
For a human rights lawyer, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, Diaspora voting was 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), an NGO, said INEC lacked the manpower and technology to supervise voting outside the shores of the country.