The Compulsory Voting Bill has been withdrawn by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen,
The Speaker’s spokesperson, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, who revealed this in a statement on Monday, quoted his principal saying “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 Adama Ago.”
The bill had generated negatives reactions moment it was made public
The speaker explained that it was with the best of intentions that the Bill was introduced, “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,” the statement added.
Speaker Abbas said lawmaking is ultimately about the people and that any reform must respect individual freedoms and public sentiment.
He said instead of making voting compulsory, he would explore other avenues 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 added.
