The Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has officially withdrawn the bill seeking to make voting compulsory for all eligible citizens.
According to The Nigerian Tribune, the bill, which was jointly sponsored by Hon. Abbas and Hon. Daniel Adama Ago, aimed to amend the Electoral Act 2022 and was introduced as a strategy to increase voter turnout and enhance civic participation.
However, in a statement released on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Speaker Abbas explained that the decision followed “wide-ranging consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders.”
“After carefully listening to various perspectives, we have decided to withdraw the compulsory voting bill,” the Speaker said. “Instead, we will work on innovative and inclusive strategies to make voting more appealing and accessible to all Nigerians.”
He noted that while countries such as Australia, Belgium, and Brazil have successfully implemented compulsory voting policies, Nigeria’s context requires a different approach.
“In places like Australia and Belgium, mandatory voting has driven turnout above 90 per cent. But we believe our democracy will benefit more from encouraging voluntary participation that respects citizens’ rights,” Abbas added.
More Read
The lawmaker emphasized the need to build a culture where voting is seen not as an obligation imposed by law but as a civic responsibility embraced willingly by citizens.
The move brings to a halt a legislative process that had sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians and policy experts. Critics had described the bill as unrealistic in a country facing multiple challenges around electoral participation, while supporters believed it could help combat voter apathy.
Speaker Abbas affirmed that efforts will now shift toward policy solutions that inspire trust in the electoral process and remove barriers to participation, especially among young people and marginalized communities.
“Our goal is to deepen democracy, not to coerce it,” he said. “This withdrawal opens the door for broader conversations on how best to achieve inclusive and credible elections in Nigeria.”
