Reps okay bill to make voting compulsory in Nigeria

A proposed amendment to the Electoral Act 2022, seeking to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians, has advanced to the second reading stage in the House of Representatives.

The bill, introduced by Speaker of the House Tajudeen Abbas and co-sponsored by Daniel Ago, aims to address the growing issue of voter apathy in the country. Presenting the bill during Thursday’s plenary session, Ago emphasized the need to strengthen democratic participation through legislation that mandates electoral involvement.

He argued that such a measure could significantly reduce the persistent lack of interest among citizens during elections if it successfully navigates the full legislative process.

Despite support for the bill moving forward, some lawmakers raised concerns about the broader implications. Mark Esset, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party representing Akwa Ibom State, cautioned that compulsion alone would not fix the deep-rooted issues within Nigeria’s electoral system.

“Let us not put something on nothing. If citizens have lost confidence in the electoral system, there is a lot of work to be done,” he said.

“Many Nigerians do not vote during elections because they believe that their votes will not count. If we must make a law to make voting compulsory, we must also make another one to make their votes count,” Esset added.

The bill will proceed through further legislative scrutiny before it can be enacted into law.