Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has officially withdrawn the proposed bill seeking to make voting compulsory for eligible Nigerians.
The decision was made public through a statement released on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi. The bill, which sought to amend the Electoral Act 2022, was co-sponsored by Hon. Daniel Adama Ago.
According to the Speaker, the withdrawal followed “extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders.” He emphasized that the proposal was originally introduced with noble intentions—to promote civic engagement and increase voter turnout.
“Compulsory voting has seen remarkable success in countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, where participation rates consistently exceed 90 percent,” the statement noted. “Other nations, including Argentina and Singapore, have adopted similar policies to foster broader inclusion in the electoral process.”
However, Speaker Abbas acknowledged the importance of aligning legislative efforts with public sentiment and individual freedoms.
“Lawmaking is ultimately about the people,” he said. “Any electoral reform must balance our democratic ideals with the rights of citizens.”
Rather than mandating participation, the Speaker expressed a commitment to pursuing strategies that incentivize voluntary voting and improve electoral accessibility.
“This withdrawal allows for continued dialogue on cultivating a democratic culture where voting is a choice driven by empowerment, not obligation,” he added.
