FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NDERG PRESS RELEASE
DATE:
July 24, 2009
NDERG SUBMITS DRAFT BILL ON VOTING
RIGHTS ON BEHALF OF NIGERIANS RESIDENT ABROAD
Washington,
DC, USA: Today,
July 24, 2009, NDERG officially and formally released two versions of a
Draft Bill for an Act to be passed by Nigeria’s National Assembly that
will empower INEC to set up administrative procedures and rules to
ensure that Nigerians resident abroad, in all countries outside of
Nigeria, are able to register, vote and have votes counted in-situ forthwith in Nigeria’s
Presidential and Gubernatorial Elections as soon as practicable, but as
early as the next general elections in 2011.
The
submission is pursuant to a favorable ruling delivered by Justice A.
Bello on December 18, 2008, following a suit No.FHC/ABJ/CS/370/2007
requesting legal clarification and filed in an Abuja Federal High Court
by twenty (20) members of the Diaspora in May 2007. The
plaintiffs were drawn from various continents around the world and
represented all the geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The ruling
affirmed the Constitutional right of ALL Nigerian citizens EVERYWHERE
to vote in elections in Nigeria; frowned at the present inability for
those living in the Diaspora to participate directly in their places of
residence; and urged INEC, working with Nigerians in the Diaspora and
the Nigerian National Assembly, to take cognizance of similar efforts
in various countries around the world, and to set in motion draft bills
for enabling laws to remove that inability.
Following
the ruling, the plaintiffs constituted the core of a US-registered
association - Nigeria Diaspora Electoral Reform Group (NDERG) - formed
not only to press the case for Voting Rights for Nigerians resident
abroad, but also to ensure that we contribute positively to the ongoing
electoral reform in Nigeria. Deploying the best
brains and legal advice available both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora,
and after considerable consultation with many individuals of diverse
backgrounds, and an open public forum that was held on May 23, 2009 in
Washington DC which attracted many Nigerians and friends of Nigerian
from all works of life, the successful result of NDERG’s effort is the
Draft Bill being forwarded to you herewith.
NDERG
believes that this short but important Bill will pass in the earliest
possible time, either as a stand-alone chapter in an amended Electoral
Law 2006 (Version 1 of the draft), or as a complete stand-alone bill by
itself (Version 2). In this regard, the draft Bill has
already been forwarded to INEC (chaired by Prof. Maurice
Iwu). NDERG will be working in conjunction with INEC to
spearhead/support the timely submission of the Bill as
required by the ruling. Furthermore, to fast-track its
passage, the mix of sponsorship, cooperation and goodwill of the House
Committee on Electoral Matters (chaired by Hon. Musa
Sarkin-Adar), on Foreign Affairs (chaired by Hon. Musa Bature) and on
Diaspora Affairs (chaired by Hon. Abike Kafayat
Dabiri-Erewa); the Senate Committee on INEC (chaired by
Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke) and on Foreign Affairs (chair: Senator
Jubril Aminu) are to be relied upon. The special interest and
support of Senate President David Mark, Speaker
Hon. Dimeji Bankole, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekwerenmadu
and Senator Annie Okonkwo as already expressed are also
appreciated.
Finally,
due to the urgency of the moment, we are also forwarding this Bill to
the Presidency, for consideration and inclusion in its own package of
draft Bills for Electoral Reform that were formulated under the
leadership of former Chief Justice Muhammed Uwais.
For further
information, please visit our website http://www.nderg.org where
copies of the Draft Bill, Version 1 and Version 2 and a Certified True
Copy (CTC) of the court ruling will be found, along with other relevant
information. Also, you may contact our Executive Director, Ms. Thelma
Horton (thelmahorton2007@yahoo.com; USA
1-919-636-5958).
NDERG Officials
Prof.
Mobolaji E. Aluko – Coordinator, Board of Trustees/Bill Drafting
Committee/Plaintiff [USA; 1-240-535-3975]
Mr. Uzoma
Onyemaechi, Board Secretary/Treasurer/Bill Drafting Committee/Plaintiff
[USA; 1-313-903-3467]
Ms.
Thelma Horton, Executive Director/Bill Drafting Committee [USA;
1-919-636-5958]
Mr.
Victor Adewusi, Board Financial Sec./Plaintiff [USA; 1-401-345-4435]
Dr. Yemi
Oke, Legal Adviser/Chair, Bill Drafting Committee/Plaintiff [Nigeria;
011-234-802-3148096]
Dr.
Emmanuel Dada, Co-Vice Chair, Bill Drafting Committee/Plaintiff [USA;
1-215-850-1883]
Prince
Chinedu Okoye, Sr., Co-Vice Chair, Bill Drafting Committee [USA;
1-781-727-8354]
Sir Tony
Nammor, Bill Drafting Committee/Plaintiff
Oloye
Lekan Awojoodu, Bill Drafting Committee/Plaintiff
Mr. Ayo
Turton, Special Legal Advisor (Draft Bill) [USA; 1-267-939-8538]
Mr.
Muyiwa Sobo, Special Legal Advisor (Draft Bill)
NDERG’s
Other trustees
Dr. Baba
Adam - Plaintiff
Hon.
Oluwafolajimi Akeem Bello - Plaintiff
Mr. Segun
Ajibulu - Plaintiff
Mr. Alex
Ike Okeke - Plaintiff
Ms.
Zainab Sheni – Plaintiff
Comprehensive
List of Plaintiffs
1. Hon.
Oluwafolajimi Akeem Bello, Ibadan Southeast Local Government (Oyo)
2. Mr.
Uzoma Onyemaechi, Ideato South Local Government (Imo)
3. Dr.
Emmanuel Dada, Efon Alaaye Local Government (Ekiti)
4. Mr.
Segun Ajibulu, Ikole Local Government (Ekiti)
5. Mr.
Surajudeen Seriki, Lagos Island Local Government (Lagos)
6. Dr.
Baba Adam, Maiduguri Metropolitan (Borno)
7. Ms.
Zainabu N. Sheni, Langtang North Local Government (Plateau)
8. Prof.
Mobolaji E. Aluko, Gbonyin Local Government (Ekiti)
9. Prof.
Adeoye Akinsanya, Ikenne Local Government (Ogun)
10. Mr.
Uzoma C. Obi, Ideato North Local Government (Imo)
11. Oloye
Lekan Awojoodu, Ife East Local Government (Osun)
12. Prince
Stephen Ternenge Malu, Ukum Local Government (Benue)
13. Mr.
Victor Adewusi, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government (Ekiti)
14. Mr.
Kolawole E. Silva-Ope, Lagos Island Local Government (Lagos)
15. Mr.
Alex I. Okeke, Nnewi South Local Government (Anambra)
16. Sir
Tony O. Nammor, Aniocha North Government (Delta)
17. Dr.
Yemi Oke, Abeokuta South Local Government (Ogun)
18. Prof.
Isa Odidi, Kano Municipal Local Government (Kano)
19. Mr.
Ochi C. Ogbuaku,. II, Umuahia South Local Government (Abia)
20. Dr.
Mrs. Oluremi Ajibewa, Oke Ero Local Government (Kwara)
Attachments:
Diaspora Voting Draft Bill Version 1 - Nigerian Foreign Resident Participation [Section for insertion Option]
Diaspora Voting Draft Bill Version
2 - Nigerian Foreign Resident Participation [Chapter
Option]
http://www.nderg.org/documents/Nigerian_Foreign_Resident_Participation_[Chapter_Option]_Version_2.pdf
The Certified True Copy of the Court Ruling
http://www.nderg.org/documents/CTC_Diaspora_Vote_Judgment_December_2008.doc
The Diaspora Voting Class Action Petition Originating Documents
http://www.nderg.org/documents/voting_class_action_petition_originating_documents.pdf
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