Nigerian Diaspora Group Backs Tinubu For 2027, Pushes For Overseas Voting Rights
By Sunday Etuka
A coalition of Nigerians living abroad has thrown its weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, while simultaneously launching a campaign to secure voting rights for the diaspora ahead of the 2027 elections.
Tunde Olofin, Director-General of the Diaspora Boys Movement, announced the endorsement Tuesday in Abuja at a roundtable hosted by the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE).
He said the group has built coordinating structures across more than 100 countries to rally support for Tinubu’s candidacy.
The movement’s backing rests largely on economic policy. Olofin pointed to the administration’s removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of exchange rates — moves he called painful but necessary steps that have since improved government revenue and investor confidence.
He also credited youth-focused programs, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the 3 Million Technical Talent initiative, with expanding opportunities for young Nigerians; the group cited government figures showing NELFUND had reached over 1.5 million students and disbursed more than N282 billion by May 2026.
Infrastructure was another pillar of the group’s case, with Olofin highlighting the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, rail expansion and power-sector investment as evidence of forward momentum. He also praised the administration’s record on press freedom and civil society engagement.
Beyond the endorsement, Olofin said the group intends to press the National Assembly to establish diaspora voting, arguing that Nigerians abroad who send remittances and investments home deserve a say at the ballot box without needing to travel.
He said membership spans countries including France, Malaysia, the United States, Gambia, Sudan and Turkey, though exact figures are still being compiled.
The group acknowledged the reforms have caused hardship for many Nigerians, especially in their early stages, but urged patience as the government works to consolidate the gains. Olofin said the movement’s civic engagement would continue beyond the 2027 election cycle.
