Reps Bow to Pressure, Withdraw Compulsory Voting Bill

Reps Bow to Pressure, Withdraw Compulsory Voting Bill

Finally, the members of the House of Representatives have bowed to the pressure imposed on them by the public over their intention to legalise public voting, as the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, withdrew a bill that aimed to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians.

The speaker announced this development in a statement he issued on Monday through his media aide, Musa Krishi, saying the decision to pull the bill came after his engagement with stakeholders and a diverse group of people across the country who expressed their rejection of the bill being moved further.

Sponsored by the Speaker Tajudeen Abass and co-sponsored with Daniel Asama Ago, the bill, which has already passed the second reading,  was meant to change the Electoral Act 2022 to address the continuous voter apathy the country has been witnessing in the recent elections and make Nigerians participate in their civic responsibilities through voting during the coming polls.

The lawmakers also proposed legislation that would impose fines of ₦100,000, jail time of six months, or both on eligible voters who do not cast their ballots without a valid reason. 

But the bill was met with stiff opposition from notable personalities and civil society organisations. For instance, YIAGA Africa announced its dissatisfaction with the proposition of a bill that punishes non-voters, undermines democracy, and advocates systemic reforms to restore electoral trust. In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Samson Itodo, the organisation described the bill as “draconian” and a clear violation of constitutionally protected rights: “Voting is a right, not a duty to be criminalized.”

Days later, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the renowned human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), rebuffed the proposed inclusion of compulsory voting for Nigerians who are at voting age in the Electoral Act 2022, insisting that the lawmakers are attempting to violate the constitution of the country.

According to them, the idea of compulsory voting is against the tenet of  the 1999 constitution, which is meant to protect the interests of all Nigerians to have their fundamental human rights, stating that the proposed bill will undermine the tenet of democracy by infringing on the rights of the citizens to freedom as stated in the constitution. 

Responding to the criticism the bill has generated, the speaker, in his withdrawal, notes that he would seek another alternative instead of compelling Nigerians to vote compulsorily to ensure active participation among the electorate.

“Lawmaking is ultimately about the people it serves, and any reform must respect individual freedoms,” the statement stated.

“Rather than compel citizens to vote, he expressed commitment to exploring alternative, non-coercive measures that incentivise participation, especially among young and first-time voters.

“This withdrawal will allow time for further dialogue on how to cultivate a culture of voluntary participation that honours both our democratic ideals and the rights of our citizens,” the statement concluded.