Friday, May 16, 2025 - A bill proposing mandatory voting in elections for eligible Nigerians has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.
Sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the bill progressed after a rigorous
debate on the floor of the House on Thursday, May 15.
Leading the discussion, Daniel Ago, a co-sponsor, argued that the bill, which seeks to amend the Electoral Act 2022, is aimed at addressing Nigeria’s persistent problem of low voter turnout. He stated that making voting compulsory would boost civic engagement and participation, transforming electoral involvement from a matter of personal discretion to a legal duty.
According to Ago, “The bill, if passed into law, would strengthen democracy by improving representation, foster a more politically aware country, and reduce vote buying.”
Supporting the proposal, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu noted that civic
responsibilities such as voting should be upheld by all citizens. He pointed to
Australia as an example, where failing to vote is a punishable offence. “In
Australia, it is an offence not to vote in any election. There are some
incentives that you will be denied for not voting,” Kalu said, adding that
compulsory voting has contributed to stable and inclusive governance in that
country.
Kalu further emphasized the need for Nigerians to take part in shaping the
nation’s political direction, stating that participation in elections should
not be optional.
However, several lawmakers expressed reservations about the bill.
Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from
Rivers State, questioned the fairness and feasibility of the proposal. “What
are the incentives that would be denied to citizens?” he asked, referencing
Kalu’s argument. “Voting should be free,” he added.
Abiante also voiced concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s voter
register. “It is not clean,” he said, and posed a logistical question: “Who
will provide the logistics for Nigerians abroad to come home and vote?”
Responding to these concerns, Speaker Abbas acknowledged that certain
exceptions already exist within other legal frameworks that could accommodate
such complexities.
Mark Esset, a lawmaker from Akwa Ibom State, also opposed the bill,
arguing that citizens should not be compelled to vote in a system where they
have lost trust in the electoral process. “It is a good bill, but we are trying
to build something on nothing. While we want to make voting compulsory, there
should also be a law to make voting count,” he said.
As the debate continued, Kalu repeatedly interrupted dissenting voices by invoking Order 9, insisting that lawmakers stay within the scope of the bill’s principles. However, Abbas intervened to clarify that the opposing arguments were within bounds and relevant to the general principles of the bill.
When the speaker eventually called for a voice vote, the majority of lawmakers responded with a louder “aye” than the “nay,” allowing the bill to scale its second reading
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