Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has withdrawn a proposed bill that sought to make voting compulsory for eligible Nigerians.
In a statement issued Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the Speaker said the decision followed wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders across the country. The bill, co-sponsored by Hon. Daniel Adama Ago, was aimed at amending the Electoral Act 2022 to mandate participation in elections.
Abbas said the proposal was driven by a desire to boost civic engagement and improve voter turnout, pointing to examples in countries like Australia, Belgium and Brazil where compulsory voting laws have led to participation rates above 90 percent. He also noted that similar frameworks are in place in Argentina and Singapore.
“From the outset, the Bill was introduced with the best of intentions,” the Speaker said. “Our aim was to strengthen democracy by encouraging greater voter participation.”
However, he acknowledged that legislation must reflect the will of the people. “Lawmaking is about those it serves,” he said. “Reform must respect individual freedoms and public sentiment.”
Rather than force citizens to the polls, Abbas said future efforts will focus on encouraging voluntary participation through incentives and reforms that make voting easier and more appealing.
The withdrawal of the bill, he added, will allow space for broader dialogue on how to build a more inclusive democratic culture without infringing on personal liberties.
The announcement effectively ends legislative efforts—at least for now—to introduce mandatory voting in Nigeria.
