JUST IN: Reps bow to pressure, withdraw compulsory voting bill

Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has officially withdrawn the controversial bill that sought to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians.

The bill, which was co-sponsored by Abbas and Daniel Ago—who represents Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency in Plateau State—had earlier passed its second reading in the House on May 15.

While presenting the bill, Ago argued that the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 was aimed at addressing Nigeria’s persistent challenge of low voter turnout during elections. However, the bill has now been pulled back, following growing concerns and public debate about its implications.

He said compulsory voting law would increase civic engagement and voter participation, making electoral involvement a legal obligation rather than a personal choice.

Ago said the bill, if passed into law, would strengthen democracy by improving representation, foster a more politically aware country, and reduce vote buying.

The bill proposed a six-month jail term or a fine of N100,000 for eligible voters who fail to participate in elections.

However, the bill was strongly criticised by a broad spectrum of Nigerians, including civil society organisations (CSOs) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

The NBA had said the proposed piece of legislation is “regressive” and inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution.

In a statement issued on Monday by Musa Krishi, his special adviser on media and publicity, Abbas said he withdrew the bill after “extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders”.

“From the outset, the bill was introduced with the best intentions, which is to bolster civic engagement and strengthen our democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout,” the statement reads.

“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 per cent, 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.”

Abbas added that the bill’s withdrawal would allow for “further dialogue” on how best to foster voluntary participation that honours our democratic ideals and the rights of Nigerians.

With the bill withdrawn, no further legislative action is expected to be taken on it.

(TheCable)