REFERENDUM IS DEMOCRATIC RIGHT, NOT CRIME, DIASPORA GROUPS TELL FG

Diaspora groups have called on the Federal Government to recognise demands for a referendum as an expression of democratic choice, arguing that such calls should not be treated as criminal acts.

Their position brings attention to the debate over how citizens can peacefully express their views on the country’s political future.

A referendum is a direct vote in which eligible citizens are asked to decide a specific question. Unlike a general election, where voters choose representatives, a referendum asks people to vote on a particular proposal.

The groups’ argument centres on the belief that citizens should be able to advocate a public vote without being treated as criminals simply for expressing that position.

However, describing a referendum as a democratic right is the groups’ position. Whether a particular referendum can legally take place depends on the applicable constitutional and legal framework.

The debate therefore involves two separate questions: the freedom to peacefully advocate political change and the legal process required to put a proposal to a public vote.

For Nigerians at home and abroad, the issue raises broader questions about participation, representation and how government responds to demands for change.

A constructive discussion would require clarity about the proposed referendum, the question voters would be asked and the legal steps needed to conduct it. These details are essential to moving the conversation towards an informed public debate.