THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has withdrawn a bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians.
The decision, announced in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, followed consultations with stakeholders.
Tajudeen, who co-sponsored the bill with Daniel Ago of Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, said the proposal was introduced with good intentions—to improve civic engagement and voter turnout.
“Compulsory voting has worked in countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, boosting participation above 90%. However, reforms must respect individual freedoms and public opinion,” he noted.
Instead of enforcing participation, the Speaker said he would focus on strategies that encourage voluntary voter turnout through positive incentives and increased accessibility.
The bill had already passed second reading in the House before the Speaker’s withdrawal.
Critics, however, argued it was unconstitutional. Notable legal voices, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria Olisa Agbakoba and Femi Falana, described the proposal as a violation of fundamental rights such as freedom of thought, conscience, and privacy.
Falana emphasized that Sections 37, 38, 77(2), 135(5), and 178(5) of the Constitution protect the right to choose whether to vote, making the bill legally unsound.
With the bill now withdrawn, Tajudeen called for broader dialogue on how best to foster democratic participation in ways that uphold both civic responsibility and constitutional rights.