DIASPORA

Information for Nigerians living abroad

KEY FACT

Nigeria does not currently provide a diaspora voting route for federal or state elections. Under the Electoral Act 2026, voters must vote personally at their allotted polling unit or voting centre.

Current published guidance still requires voters to vote in person at their assigned polling unit or voting centre. Verify against INEC and the current Act before travelling. Electoral Act 2026 source text

WHAT YOU CAN DO

TRAVEL HOME TO VOTE

Check your voter status and polling unit before you travel. You must vote personally at the polling unit or voting centre allotted to you.

Check voter status → cvr.inecnigeria.org/vvs Find polling unit → cvr.inecnigeria.org/pu

REGISTER AHEAD OF TIME

INEC's CVR locator lists active centres for 11 May to 10 July. Verify a centre before travelling. Your PVC (Permanent Voter Card) stays valid once issued and kept usable.

CVR centre locator - cvr.inecnigeria.org/locator

SUPPORT FROM ABROAD

Support lawful civic activity from abroad: share verified INEC information, volunteer remotely, support voter education, or donate through lawful campaign channels.

ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE

Advocate for future diaspora voting through your National Assembly representatives, INEC public consultations, and recognised civic organisations. Verify any proposed reform against official National Assembly and INEC sources.

HISTORY & STATUS

2010

Electoral Act 2010Diaspora voting not included

NOT INCLUDED

2019

Diaspora voting advocacy continuesPublic debate continues, but no voting route for Nigerians abroad is in force

ADVOCACY

2022

Electoral Act 2022 signedDiaspora voting provisions debated but NOT included in final act

NOT INCLUDED

2023

General elections heldDiaspora voting not available

UNAVAILABLE

2026

Electoral Act 2026 signedRepeals Electoral Act 2022; no diaspora voting route is shown in the published framework

NOT INCLUDED

2027

Next general electionsStatus currently unchanged; monitor INEC and National Assembly announcements

MONITOR

TRANSFER YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION

If you are registered in one state but have since moved, you can transfer your voter registration to a different ward during CVR (Continuous Voter Registration) periods.

You can transfer your voter registration to a different ward within CVR periods
Use INEC's current CVR portal or office guidance for the active registration period
Bring your existing PVC and proof of new address

Verify / transfer registration → cvr.inecnigeria.org/vvs

FIND YOUR POLLING UNIT

If you are returning to Nigeria to vote, look up your polling unit before you travel. You must vote at the polling unit where you are registered — you cannot vote elsewhere.

Check polling unit → cvr.inecnigeria.org/pu