The House of Representatives has taken a bold step toward reforming Nigeria’s electoral system as a bill seeking to make voting compulsory for all eligible citizens passed second reading on Thursday.
The proposed amendment to the Electoral Act 2022, co-sponsored by Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, and lawmaker Daniel Ago, is aimed at tackling the growing problem of voter apathy and increasing citizens’ participation in democratic governance.
While leading the debate during plenary, Ago argued that mandatory voting would significantly improve civic engagement and restore the essence of participatory democracy in Nigeria.
“The bill seeks to ensure that every eligible Nigerian takes part in shaping the country’s future through the ballot. If this is achieved, we would see improved legitimacy of elected officials and a stronger democracy,” Ago said.
However, the bill is not without opposition. Mark Esset, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member representing Akwa Ibom State, expressed reservations about the effectiveness of the bill, stating that compulsory voting cannot work in isolation from broader electoral reforms.
“Let us not put something on nothing,” Esset said. “If citizens have lost confidence in the electoral system, there is a lot of work to be done. Many Nigerians don’t vote because they believe their votes don’t count. If we must make voting compulsory, we must also ensure that votes truly count.”
Despite the concerns raised, the bill passed second reading and will now proceed to the committee stage for further scrutiny and public input.
This development comes amid growing national debates about low voter turnout, election credibility, and the need to deepen Nigeria’s democratic culture.
