The Nigerian House of Representatives, Tuesday, accepted the petition by Mutual Union of Tiv in America (MUTA).
The petition was rejected by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase after Mark Gbillah (PDP-Benue), had submitted it to the House.
It was rejected last two weeks when Idris Wase, the deputy speaker, presided over the plenary session.
He had questioned the eligibility of the signatories because they do not “really know” the situation in Nigeria.
His decision was widely criticised by many Nigerians but Wase said his contention was on the “legality of the petitioners and not on whether Nigerians in the Diaspora have a right to petition the house or not”.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila who accepted the petition at plenary on Tuesday March 23, said the House would never discriminate against Nigerians irrespective of where they live.
Gbajabiamila stated that “the misunderstanding” that ensued from the submission of the petition earlier, was as a result of efforts to ensure clarity of signatories and identities of the petitioners.
He said “I believe this is the same petition that has attracted a lot of attention last time; it is signed right? By the petitioners right?
“The House of Representatives does not discriminate against Nigerians no matter where they live.
“The misunderstanding came from the issues of signature.
“I must say the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Ahmed Wase, is one of the champions for Diaspora voting and one of the brains behind the creation of a Diaspora committee in this house.
“Having made clear that understanding, please go ahead and lay that petition.”
