Bill to make voting mandatory scales second reading at house of reps

A bill proposing mandatory voting in elections for eligible Nigerians has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. 

Sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the bill progressed after a rigorous debate on the floor of the House on Thursday, May 15.

Leading the discussion, Daniel Ago, a co-sponsor, argued that the bill, which seeks to amend the Electoral Act 2022, is aimed at addressing Nigeria’s persistent problem of low voter turnout. He stated that making voting compulsory would boost civic engagement and participation, transforming electoral involvement from a matter of personal discretion to a legal duty.

According to Ago, “The bill, if passed into law, would strengthen democracy by improving representation, foster a more politically aware country, and reduce vote buying.”

Supporting the proposal, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu noted that civic responsibilities such as voting should be upheld by all citizens. He pointed to Australia as an example, where failing to vote is a punishable offence. “In Australia, it is an offence not to vote in any election. There are some incentives that you will be denied for not voting,” Kalu said, adding that compulsory voting has contributed to stable and inclusive governance in that country.

Kalu further emphasized the need for Nigerians to take part in shaping the nation’s political direction, stating that participation in elections should not be optional.

However, several lawmakers expressed reservations about the bill. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Rivers State, questioned the fairness and feasibility of the proposal. “What are the incentives that would be denied to citizens?” he asked, referencing Kalu’s argument. “Voting should be free,” he added.

Abiante also voiced concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s voter register. “It is not clean,” he said, and posed a logistical question: “Who will provide the logistics for Nigerians abroad to come home and vote?”

Responding to these concerns, Speaker Abbas acknowledged that certain exceptions already exist within other legal frameworks that could accommodate such complexities.

Mark Esset, a lawmaker from Akwa Ibom State, also opposed the bill, arguing that citizens should not be compelled to vote in a system where they have lost trust in the electoral process. “It is a good bill, but we are trying to build something on nothing. While we want to make voting compulsory, there should also be a law to make voting count,” he said.

As the debate continued, Kalu repeatedly interrupted dissenting voices by invoking Order 9, insisting that lawmakers stay within the scope of the bill’s principles. However, Abbas intervened to clarify that the opposing arguments were within bounds and relevant to the general principles of the bill.

When the speaker eventually called for a voice vote, the majority of lawmakers responded with a louder “aye” than the “nay,” allowing the bill to scale its second reading.