By Barth Ikiebe

The House of Representatives has withdrawn a bill that sought to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians.

The move follows heavy criticisms from the public and concerns raised by civil society groups, legal experts, and ordinary citizens.

The bill, which was backed by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Rep. Daniel Asama Ago, aimed to amend the Electoral Act 2022 by turning voting into a legal duty.

It had already passed second reading in March 2024 and stirred intense debate within and outside the National Assembly.

Supporters of the bill believed it would lead to better voter turnout and stronger democratic participation.

But many Nigerians felt that forcing people to vote could violate their rights and would be difficult to implement across the country.

After listening to feedback from various groups, including legal minds, election observers, and members of the public, the House leadership decided to step back.

Speaker Abbas explained that while the bill was intended to improve civic responsibility, it must not ignore people’s freedom to choose.

He said the House would instead focus on encouraging voluntary voter participation, especially among young people and first-time voters.

Examples from countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil were used to show how compulsory voting could boost turnout.

Lawmakers, however, acknowledged that Nigeria’s situation is different, with challenges like insecurity, lack of trust in the electoral process, and poor logistics on election day often keeping people away from the polls.

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