The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has withdrawn the bill seeking to make voting compulsory for all eligible voters in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Media, Musa Kirshi, the Speaker stated that the withdrawal of the bill was due to uproar generated among a broad spectrum ” of Nigerians.
Stakeholders, CSOs and some lawmakers have described the bill as an affront on the freedom and rights of Nigerians and therefore should be dropped.
The Speaker’s statement reads in part:
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, wishes to inform the public that, following extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, he has decided to withdraw the Bill to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians, which he co-sponsored with Hon. Daniel Asama Ago.
From the outset, the Bill was introduced with the best of 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.
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.