By Jude Opara, Abuja
Ahead of the next general elections in 2027, the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the United Kingdom (Uk) have vowed to push for the amendment of the Constitution to enable Nigerians in the Diaspora exercise their right to vote for the candidates of their choice.
Acting Chairman of the APC UK branch, Tunde Doherthy revealed this on Thursday at the National Secretariat of the party when led some members of his branch to submit his nomination forms for the election into the executive committee of the branch.
Doherthy who expressed optimism that the numerous Nigerians living abroad will have their chance to also vote regretted that past efforts at amending the law suffered during the second reading at the Nigerian Senate.
He argued that there is every reason to accommodate those in the Diaspora when it comes to selecting leaders because despite living abroad, they have continued to support the Nigerian economy with their remittances which he said is about the second biggest after the petroleum sector.
“We are going to re-lunch the effort in having the relevant laws that will allow Nigerians living abroad vote in our elections because we are critical stakeholders of the Nigerian nation. During the era of President Olusegun Obasanjo there was a case to that effect which we won, I still have that judgement. Again, the bill came up in the last National Assembly and was almost scaling through when it was shot down in the second reading”.
While commenting on the state of the nation, Doherthy urged Nigerians to keep faith with President Bola Tinubu, assuring that he has what it takes to turn the fortunes of the nation around.
He regretted that Nigerians are going through hash economic situation, but added that what is happening today is the culmination of years of poor planning by successive administrations, as well as the greed of some people who sabotaged efforts of the government.
The APC chieftain gave example with the issue of foreign exchange which he said was abused by some people who instead of using what was given to them decided to sell it to make quick money.
Doherthy who is also the interim chairman of the party in the UK appealed to members of the party to continue to support the APC administration led by Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje in its effects to reposition the party to remain the dominant party in the country.
