May 26, (THEWILL) – The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has withdrawn a controversial bill seeking to make voting compulsory in Nigeria, following widespread public backlash and concerns over its legality.
The proposed legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to Make It Mandatory for All Nigerians of Majority Age to Vote in All National and State Elections and for Related Matters”, was co-sponsored by Abbas and Hon. Daniel Asama Ago, who represents Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency of Plateau State. Though the bill had passed second reading, it drew sharp criticism from civil rights advocates and legal experts.
The bill proposed penalties—including a maximum of six months imprisonment or a fine of up to N100,000—for eligible voters who fail to participate in elections.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Speaker Abbas said the decision to withdraw the bill was made after “extensive consultations” with a broad range of stakeholders.
He said the move would pave the way for broader dialogue on encouraging voluntary civic participation in a manner that respects democratic principles and individual freedoms.
Noting that the Bill, “From the outset, the bill was introduced with the best of intentions, which is to bolster civic engagement and strengthen our democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout”, Abbas said, “Compulsory voting has long been practised with notable success in countries such as Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, where it has helped sustain participation rates above 90 percent, while nations like Argentina and Singapore have also implemented similar measures to foster inclusivity at the ballot box.”
Nevertheless, the Speaker “acknowledges that lawmaking is ultimately about the people it serves and that any reform must respect individual freedoms and public sentiment. Rather than compel participation, he is committed to exploring positive incentives and innovative approaches that will make voting more attractive and accessible to all Nigerians.
“This withdrawal will allow time for further dialogue on how best to cultivate a culture of voluntary participation that honours both our democratic ideals and the rights of our citizens.” The bill, which had already scaled the second reading before its withdrawal in the House, was faulted by Nigerians who described it as unconstitutional.
“While countries such as Australia, Belgium, and Brazil have successfully implemented mandatory voting, we believe that a tailored approach may be more appropriate for Nigeria.”
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