Nigerians Abroad Still Have Political Rights, Says APC Leader

A leader in the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Tai Balofin, has said that Nigerians living outside the country still have rights to political association and participation. He is also the Special Adviser on Diaspora Coordination and Mobilisation to the APC National Chairman.

Balofin, who also chairs APC USA, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. This was in response to a recent Federal High Court ruling that called the party’s diaspora chapters unconstitutional.

He said that while the group respects the court’s decision, it does not believe the ruling takes away the constitutional rights of Nigerians abroad to associate freely, express political views, and support political parties.

“Our position is clear and non-negotiable. We remain APC Diaspora without let or hindrance,” he stated.

“We remain APC USA, APC UK, APC Canada, APC Europe, APC Asia, and all other APC Diaspora Chapters worldwide.”

Balofin pointed out that the APC Constitution recognizes diaspora chapters under Article 31. This article states: “There shall be established external branches and chapters of the Party in the diaspora whose activities shall be governed by the provisions of this Constitution.”

He noted that this provision raises a constitutional question that the party’s national leadership is already looking into.

“That provision creates a clear constitutional question between the Party Constitution and the electoral laws cited by the court. This is a matter for the national leadership of the party to handle and reconcile. The Legal Department of the party is already working on it,” he explained.

Balofin insisted that regardless of the legal status of the diaspora chapters, Nigerians abroad are protected by Sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution. These sections guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.

He urged APC members across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, and Africa to stay calm and keep supporting the party. They should do this while waiting for the legal process to unfold.

“We remain loyal, law-abiding, and fully aligned with the national leadership of the party while the legal issues are being resolved,” he added.

This statement comes after a recent judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja. The court ruled that the establishment and operation of political party chapters outside Nigeria contradict the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.

The court said that though Nigerians abroad have constitutional rights to freedom of association and expression, neither the Constitution nor the Electoral Act allows political parties to set up official structures or chapters outside the country.

This ruling has sparked new discussions about the political involvement of Nigerians in the diaspora. These Nigerians send billions of dollars home every year but do not have constitutional rights for voting from abroad.

Despite the judgment, Balofin maintained that it only addressed the legal status of political party chapters outside Nigeria. It did not stop Nigerians in the diaspora from identifying with political parties, rallying support for them, or participating in lawful political activities.

He added that the party’s legal team is looking into the judgment and will advise the APC national leadership on the next steps.