The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has withdrawn a bill seeking to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians, following widespread criticism from the public and civil society groups.
Co-sponsored with lawmaker Daniel Asama Ago, the bill proposed amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 aimed at boosting voter turnout and strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process. However, strong opposition from citizens and advocacy groups led to its withdrawal.
According to a statement by Tajudeen’s media aide, Musa Krishi, the decision came after broad consultations with various stakeholders across the country.
“From the start, the goal was to get more people involved in elections and strengthen democracy by boosting voter turnout,” the statement read.
The bill had passed second reading in the House last Thursday, igniting heated debate nationwide. While some welcomed the idea as a step toward enhancing civic responsibility, many condemned it as an infringement on personal freedom and a policy difficult to enforce in a country as large and diverse as Nigeria.
Speaker Abbas acknowledged that nations like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil have benefited from compulsory voting laws but stressed that Nigeria must adopt strategies that align with its unique socio-political context.
“Lawmaking is about serving the people, and any new law must respect personal freedom,” Abbas stated.
He added that rather than enforcing voting through legislation, the government would now focus on finding inclusive ways to encourage electoral participation—especially among young and first-time voters.
“This withdrawal gives us time to talk more about how to build a culture of voluntary voting that supports our democracy and respects citizens’ rights,” he said.
Public feedback largely emphasized the need to tackle underlying issues such as election-day violence, poor voter education, logistical failures, and lack of trust in the electoral process—factors many believe are the real causes of voter apathy in the country.
