… As Namibia holds diaspora voting today
The Namibian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Humphrey Geiseb has stated there is no Nigerian in Namibian prison, just as he announced that Diaspora voting will take place all around the world today as Namibians go to the polls to elect new President and Parliamentarians.
Geiseb gave the cheering news when he visited Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman- Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in Abuja on Tuesday.
He stated that Namibians living in Nigeria will join other Namibians all over the world on Wednesday to participate in diaspora voting for both Parliamentary and National Elections holding on November 13 and 27 respectively.
He recalled that Namibia started diaspora voting since the early 2000 till date having amended its electoral laws to accommodate it.
Geiseb said that the relationship between Nigeria and Namibia dates back to the 70’s when Nigeria contributed to the fight for Namibia’s independence.
Since then, he said, numerous efforts have been made in cementing the relationship between Nigeria and Namibia.
He described Nigerians living in Namibia as good ambassadors, doing well in various fields of human endeavours.
“I am happy to inform you that there is no Nigerian in Namibian prisons and none has been harassed as they are all well behaved and hardworking. They are doing well in various endeavours- academia, business and many others”, he said.
The Envoy said that the political party system policy, in his homeland, is gender-friendly, noting that the Namibian political parties practice what he called the “50-50 or Zebra system”, which allows equal representation of women in politics.
He sought for a partnership with NIDCOM on ways of effectively aligning Namibians and its Diasporas with NIDCOM initiatives especially in the areas of trade and investment.
Responding, Hon. Dabiri-Erewa urged the National Assembly to make the Diaspora voting in Nigeria a reality by expediting action on the amendment to the Electoral Act in Nigeria.
“There is no reason why Nigeria can’t have diaspora voting just as Namibia and some other countries have already joined the league of countries doing diaspora voting”, she said.
She congratulated Namibia on its diaspora voting, gender equality and being a friendly country for Nigerians in the Diaspora.
The NIDCOM boss was equally happy that Nigerians in Namibia are making the country proud by being good ambassadors.
Photo: Chairman/CEO NIDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
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