By BONIFACE AKARAH

United States-based Nigerian lawyer and democracy advocate, Emmanuel Ogebe, says Nigerians living abroad are becoming an increasingly influential force in the country’s political landscape, with major political parties now taking their campaigns beyond the nation’s borders despite the diaspora’s inability to vote in elections.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Inside Sources, Ogebe said political engagement among Nigerians overseas has grown significantly over the years, making the diaspora an important audience that presidential hopefuls can no longer afford to ignore.

“The diaspora has become more and more energized and more and more interested in politics in Nigeria,” Ogebe said. “Even though we’ve been denied the vote, our interest in what happens back home has continued to grow.”

He noted that the increasing relevance of Nigerians abroad is reflected in the growing number of campaign activities organised outside the country during election seasons, with political actors recognising the diaspora’s influence on public discourse and national conversations.

“APC brought Nigerian politics into the U.S. because there were town hall meetings during Buhari’s 2015 campaign,” he said. “In 2023, Obi had massive town halls. I think he had about seven town halls across North America in a period of one week. So the diaspora has become very interested.”

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Ogebe said it remains unclear where the political mood among Nigerians abroad currently lies, although he acknowledged that the Labour Party enjoyed considerable momentum within the diaspora during the last election cycle.

“I think the momentum of the diaspora was towards Obi the last time. This time around, I don’t know what it will be,” he said. “But again, we don’t have votes yet, so our impact might be very limited.”

He maintained that while overseas Nigerians remain excluded from the ballot box, they continue to shape political conversations through advocacy, public engagement and sustained interest in governance, making them an increasingly important constituency in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

The issue of diaspora voting has remained part of Nigeria’s electoral reform debate for years, with advocates arguing that millions of Nigerians living abroad should be allowed to participate in elections. Although the legal framework has yet to accommodate such participation, political parties have increasingly intensified engagement with overseas Nigerians, recognising their growing influence on the nation’s political discourse.