The House of Representatives has officially withdrawn the controversial bill seeking to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians. The bill, titled *”Bill to Amend the Electoral Act 2022″*, was sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, and co-sponsored by Rep. Daniel Adama Ago.
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, made the announcement in a statement released in Abuja on Monday.
According to the statement, the bill was introduced with the intention of increasing civic participation and strengthening democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout, similar to practices in countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, where compulsory voting has reportedly raised turnout to over 90 percent.
However, following widespread public criticism and consultations with various stakeholders, the Speaker chose to withdraw the bill.
“Lawmaking is about serving the people,” the statement read. “Any reform must respect individual freedoms and public sentiment. Rather than compel participation, the Speaker is committed to exploring positive incentives and new ways to make voting more attractive and accessible.”
The withdrawal now paves the way for further discussions on how to encourage voter participation without infringing on personal freedoms.
The proposed bill had stirred mixed reactions, with many Nigerians arguing that compulsory voting could violate citizens’ rights, especially in a country where electoral transparency and trust remain major concerns.
