By Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi
Global Chairman, ADC-DN
A clear policy for Nigerians in the diaspora is not a plea for special treatment. It is a fundamental assertion of equal citizenship: those profoundly affected by national policy must have a direct voice in shaping it.
For decades, Nigerians abroad have been welcomed as reliable engines of financial stability a vital source of remittances, investment and international expertise. Yet when critical decisions are made about the future of the nation they sustain, they are routinely relegated to the margins. Their participation in national life must no longer depend on the cyclical tokenism of election seasons or the passing goodwill of political leaders. It must be enshrined as a core pillar of an inclusive national strategy.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) now stands at a defining crossroads. The party’s foundational text, The Orange Book, marks a structural departure from standard political pledges by framing its governance principles as an enforceable, binding contract with the public rather than as vague campaign slogans. It rightly commits to building a free and democratic society in which all citizens enjoy the full benefits of citizenship and are empowered to contribute to Nigeria’s peace and prosperity. This is a noble principle. The immediate challenge, however, is to demonstrate how this mandate applies to Nigerians, regardless of where they reside.
True progress demands a diaspora-centred approach to citizen diplomacy. Nigerians abroad are not passive donors; they are active partners in national development. Their professional networks, international experience and institutional knowledge are indispensable assets. But citizen diplomacy cannot thrive on a one-way street. It requires genuine engagement and trust, not an expectation that the diaspora will continue to bankroll the nation while remaining voiceless.
Equal citizenship requires political inclusion at the highest level. Diaspora members must be included in policy formulation, party dialogue and national debate. To that end, the ADC must clearly articulate its position on diaspora voting and lead the charge for lawful, practical mechanisms that enable citizens abroad to exercise their democratic right. The administrative challenges are real, but they must be addressed with deliberate political will, rather than cited as excuses for inaction.
This inclusion must begin within the party itself. The Orange Book establishes that decisions must be made through dialogue, consensus and internal democracy, free from the domination of political “godfathers.” Applying this principle means providing diaspora chapters with formal, permanent channels to shape strategy and decision-making. Their proposals must be systematically considered throughout the year, rather than treated as an afterthought during the campaign rush.
Practical governance must follow political promises. Policy must be backed by assigned responsibilities and measurable benchmarks, whether in the provision of responsive consular services or the creation of transparent frameworks that channel diaspora capital and technical skills directly into national development. Vague expressions of gratitude from political leaders cannot replace institutional accountability.
The party’s broader governance reforms can help deliver this change. By supporting anti-flamboyance standards that reverse the burden of proof for unexplained wealth, ending opaque, single-line security votes and banning bloated official travel, the ADC can help ensure that national resources and diaspora investments are protected from systemic corruption. Through the Burden of Completion Principle, the party can obligate future administrations to complete development initiatives already under way, ensuring that diaspora-backed national projects are not arbitrarily abandoned when leadership changes. And by requiring leaders to make public asset declarations within 30 days of taking office and to take a personal Oath of Ethical Leadership, the party can establish verifiable safeguards that build trust with citizens at home and abroad.
I call on the Atiku Presidential Campaign Council, the ADC National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee to initiate a structured, formal dialogue with diaspora leadership. This process must produce a transparent policy framework with clear priorities, actionable timelines and permanent oversight mechanisms.
This is a constructive challenge to the party’s leadership. Enshrining a robust diaspora policy does not confer a luxury on Nigerians abroad; it gives practical expression to the principle that every Nigerian has an equal stake in the nation’s future. The diaspora does not ask to stand above citizens at home. It asks to stand beside them as equals. The ADC has an unprecedented opportunity to lead this shift. It must take it.
By Hon. Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi, M.P.S., D.CM, UPF
Global Chairman, ADC-DN; former Continental Chairman, Continental Executive Council (CEC) and Board of Trustees, Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (2016–2020); and former NIDO Worldwide Coordinating Chairman.
