The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerian citizens in national and state elections.
Sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, and Daniel Ago, the bill proposes amendments to the Electoral Act 2022, aimed at tackling the persistent problem of voter apathy during elections.
Leading the debate on the floor of the House, Mr Ago described the bill as a strategic move to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic culture. He said the country had recorded worryingly low voter turnout in recent elections, citing the 2023 general elections in which less than 30 percent of registered voters participated.
“This trend undermines the legitimacy of elections and weakens our democratic institutions,” he said.
“Voting is not only a right but a civic duty. This bill proposes to make it mandatory for all eligible Nigerians to vote in general elections.”
The proposed legislation, according to him, allows for certain justified exemptions but intends to compel participation as a means of enhancing civic responsibility.
In his contribution, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu threw his weight behind the bill, pointing to examples from other democracies.
“In countries like Australia, it is a punishable offence not to vote during elections. Citizens face consequences such as sanctions by the tax office or withdrawal of certain civic benefits,” he noted.
I’M“This bill doesn’t just mandate voting; it ensures that every citizen is counted in every election.”
However, not all lawmakers were fully on board. Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP, Rivers) expressed concerns about the feasibility of implementing such a law. He argued that efforts should instead focus on improving the credibility of the electoral process.
“If Nigerians have faith in the electoral system, they will naturally turn out to vote,” he said.
In his ruling, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen referred the bill to relevant committees for further legislative scrutiny and public input.
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