Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - Human rights lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has rejected the proposed bill seeking to make voting mandatory in Nigeria, saying he would rather be jailed than comply with such a law.
Speaking during a television appearance on Monday, Agbakoba
criticized the National Assembly’s attempt to enforce compulsory voting,
arguing that it ignores the root causes of voter apathy in the country.
“Look at the
ridiculous one in the National Assembly about voting being compulsory. If that
bill were to pass, I would say, ‘Agbakoba, we will not obey it.’ I’ll plead
conscientious objection. I’d rather go to prison for six months than obey it,”
he said.
He questioned the rationale behind the bill, asking,
“Why would
the National Assembly want to impose compulsory voting? Why don’t they reverse
the question and ask, why are Nigerians not interested? What is the apathy
about?”
Agbakoba said disengagement from voting stems from years of
exclusion and broken political promises, not a lack of civic duty. He added
that exclusion is at the core of Nigeria’s democratic challenges.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, he expressed
concern about a recurring pattern and warned that democracy in Nigeria cannot
thrive if it continues to serve only a privileged few.
When asked whether the issue is the allure of public office
or failed leadership, Agbakoba insisted that political dysfunction is the
primary reason for low voter turnout.
The bill, which has passed second reading in the House of
Representatives, seeks to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians in
national and state elections. It is co-sponsored by the Speaker and a lawmaker
from the Labour Party.
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