House of Reps Speaker withdraws bill seeking to make voting mandatory

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen has withdrawn the Bill to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians.

The Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, who disclosed this in Abuja on Monday, May 26, said the withdrawal followed extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders.

Abbas insisted that the Bill was introduced with the best of intentions to bolster civic engagement and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout.

“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.

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 speaker’s spokesman said

The House of Representatives had passed the bill for the second reading, which sought the amendment of the Electoral Act, 2022 to make voting in national and state elections compulsory for all citizens of voting age from 18 years and above.