Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has officially withdrawn the bill seeking to make voting mandatory for eligible Nigerians.
The bill, which was co-sponsored by Abbas and Daniel Ago, the lawmaker representing Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency of Plateau State, had scaled second reading in the House on May 15.
During the debate, Ago explained that the proposed legislation aimed to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to address Nigeria’s persistent problem of low voter turnout.
He said: “Compulsory voting law would increase civic engagement and voter participation, making electoral involvement a legal obligation rather than a personal choice.”
Ago further argued that the bill, if passed, would enhance democratic representation, promote political awareness, and reduce vote buying. It proposed a six-month jail term or a ₦100,000 fine for eligible voters who failed to participate in elections.
However, the bill faced widespread criticism from various quarters, including civil society organisations and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which described the proposal as “regressive” and inconsistent with the Nigerian constitution.
In a statement released on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, Abbas said the decision to withdraw the bill came after “extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders.”
He stated: “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.”
“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 concluded that the bill’s withdrawal would pave the way for “further dialogue” on how best to encourage voluntary participation while upholding democratic ideals and respecting citizens’ rights.
With the withdrawal now official, no further legislative action will be taken on the bill.
