Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has officially withdrawn the controversial bill seeking to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians.
The bill, which was co-sponsored by Abbas and Hon. Daniel Adama Ago, who represents Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency of Plateau State, had faced widespread criticism from the public and civil society organizations.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the Speaker said the proposed legislation was introduced with the best intentions to boost civic engagement and address declining voter turnout in Nigeria.
“The Speaker 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,” the statement read.
Abbas noted that while compulsory voting has seen success in countries like Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Argentina, and Singapore, the Nigerian context required deeper engagement with the electorate to ensure reforms align with democratic ideals and public sentiment.
“Lawmaking is ultimately about the people it serves. Rather than compel participation, we are committed to exploring positive incentives and innovative approaches that will make voting more attractive and accessible to all Nigerians,” he said.
The now-withdrawn bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to Make It Mandatory for All Nigerians of Majority Age to Vote in All National and State Elections and for Related Matters,” had proposed a six-month imprisonment or a fine of up to N100,000 for eligible citizens who failed to vote.
Speaker Abbas said the withdrawal would create room for broader national dialogue on promoting voluntary participation in the electoral process.
