Reps Speaker, Abass Withdraws Compulsory Voting Bill

By Ayodele Oni

Bowing to public criticisms, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, on Monday announced the withdrawal of the controversial Compulsory Voting Bill.

There has been public outcry against the bill immediately it was brought before members of the green chamber with Nigerians United against it.

In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Krishi, the Speaker stated that, “following extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, he has decided to withdraw the Bill to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians, which he co-sponsored with  Daniel Adama Ago.

According to him, from the outset, the Bill was introduced with the best of intentions, “to bolster civic engagement and strengthen our democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout.

“Compulsory voting has long been practised with notable success in countries such as Australia, Belgium and Brazil, where it has helped sustain participation rates above 90 per cent, while nations like Argentina and Singapore have also implemented similar measures to foster inclusivity at the ballot box.”

Abbas agreed that lawmaking is ultimately about the people and that any reform must respect individual freedoms and public sentiment.

Rather than compel participation, he said he was committed to exploring positive incentives and innovative approaches that will make voting more attractive and accessible to all Nigerians.

“This withdrawal will allow time for further dialogue on how best to cultivate a culture of voluntary participation that honours both our democratic ideals and the rights of our citizens.”