BREAKING: Reps bow to pressure, withdraw compulsory voting bill

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has finally withdrawn the controversial bill that sought to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians.

The bill, which was co-sponsored by Abbas and Daniel Ago—who represents Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency in Plateau State—had earlier passed its second reading in the House on May 15.

While presenting the bill, Ago argued that the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 was aimed at addressing Nigeria’s pereny challenge of low voter turnout during elections.

Though, the bill attracted serious backlash from the general public.

It was strongly criticised by a broad spectrum of Nigerians, including civil society organisations (CSOs) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

While many questioned the motive and drew attention to the general lack of confidence in the voting system, some were concerned that making voting compulsory violated the fundamental right to freedom of choice.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the spokesman of Abbas, announced the Speaker’s decision to withdraw the bill.

He claimed that the decision was based on “extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders”.

“From the outset, the bill was introduced with the best intentions, which is to bolster civic engagement and strengthen our democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout,” the statement reads.

“Compulsory voting has long been practised with notable success in countries such as Australia, Belgium and Brazil, where it has helped sustain participation rates above 90 per cent, while nations like Argentina and Singapore have also implemented similar measures to foster inclusivity at the ballot box.

“Nevertheless, the speaker acknowledges that lawmaking is ultimately about the people it serves and that any reform must respect individual freedoms and public sentiment.

“Rather than compel participation, he is committed to exploring positive incentives and innovative approaches that will make voting more attractive and accessible to all Nigerians.”

The Speaker added that the bill’s withdrawal would allow for “further dialogue” on how best to foster voluntary participation that honours our democratic ideals and the rights of Nigerians.

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