Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has formally withdrawn a proposed amendment to the Electoral Act 2022, which sought to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians.
The bill, which had passed second reading in the House and was co-sponsored by Hon. Daniel Asama Ago, aimed to mandate electoral participation for citizens aged 18 and above in national and state elections.
However, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, following wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders across the country, Speaker Abbas opted to step back from the legislation.
According to Krishi, the Speaker reaffirmed that the intention behind the bill was to deepen democratic participation and boost voter turnout across the country.
“Compulsory voting has been effective in countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, where turnout often exceeds 90 percent, similar laws exist in Argentina and Singapore to promote inclusive democratic participation,” Abbas noted.
Despite its intended benefits, the Speaker acknowledged that any electoral reform must balance democratic advancement with respect for individual liberties and public sentiment.
“Lawmaking must ultimately reflect the will of the people rather than enforce participation through compulsion, the Speaker is now focused on exploring alternative strategies—such as positive incentives and voter education to encourage voluntary civic engagement,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the withdrawal of the bill will pave the way for broader national conversations on how best to build a participatory democracy that values both engagement and freedom of choice.
