Two opposition lawmakers on Thursday raised concerns over a bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act, 2022, to make voting compulsory for Nigerians of voting age in all national and state elections.
The bill, sponsored by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and Daniel Asama (Plateau), scaled second reading during plenary.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Asama said the proposed legislation aims to enhance democratic participation by mandating eligible Nigerians to vote during elections.
Asama said, “Voting is not only a right but a civic responsibility, and in many democracies across the world, it is treated as such.
This bill proposes to introduce mandatory voting for all Nigerians of voting age in general elections, both at the national and state levels. It seeks to amend the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, to reflect this obligation, while also allowing for limited and justified exemptions where necessary.”
He pointed to low voter turnout as a major concern, noting, “In the 2023 general elections, less than 30% of registered voters participated.
“This trend undermines the legitimacy of elected governments and weakens democratic institutions.”
The lawmaker argued that mandatory voting would foster greater civic engagement.
“By making voting a legal obligation, it will instil in citizens a sense of civic duty and shared responsibility in the governance process.
“Several democracies, including Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, have adopted mandatory voting with positive outcomes in terms of political participation and public accountability,” Asama said.
Asama also stated that the bill would help reduce electoral malpractice. “Mandatory voting can significantly reduce the influence of vote-buying, as more citizens will be participating,” he added.
He highlighted other objectives of the bill, including:
- Amending the Electoral Act, 2022, to introduce compulsory voting for all citizens aged 18 and above.
- Providing a legal framework for enforcing mandatory voting, including appropriate sanctions for unjustified failure to vote and valid grounds for exemption such as illness, religious objection, or residency outside the country.
- Empowering the Independent National Electoral Commission to develop systems for tracking voter compliance and managing exemption requests without infringing on fundamental rights.
- Promoting electoral education and awareness to deepen democratic participation.
Asama also noted that INEC’s dual role in regulating political parties and conducting elections creates structural inefficiencies.
“This challenge is not merely administrative; it is structural.
When a single body is tasked with both organising elections and regulating the participants in those elections, questions arise about the independence, neutrality, and operational capacity of that institution,” Asama said.
Opposition Lawmakers Raise Concerns
Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mark Esset (Akwa Ibom) and Awaji-Inombek Abiante (Rivers), questioned the practicality and fairness of enforcing compulsory voting.
Esset said, “We are trying to put something on nothing. When citizens have lost confidence in voting, there is a lot of work to be done. If we make a law to make voting compulsory, we should make another law to make the votes count.”
Abiante added, “I agree that every adult man and woman should participate in deciding their leaders, but there are certain questions we need to ask. What are the incentives to make them go out and vote? Have they been assured of their security? We are talking of a country where the name Mike Tyson is still on the voter register. Do we have an authentic voter register?
“If you make voting compulsory, there are Nigerians in Ghana, the United States, and everywhere. How do you bring them back to vote?”
Support from Other Lawmakers
The bill received support from Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Tijani Ghali (NNPP, Kano), and Amadi Akarachi (APC, Imo), who echoed the need for reforms to boost civic participation.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Electoral Matters for further legislative action.
