Reps Proposes Bill To Make Voting Mandatory For Nigerians

A bill amending the Electoral Act 2022, which seeks to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerian citizens, has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives. This marks a significant move towards mandatory voting in Nigeria.

The bill, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Rep. Daniel Ago, seeks to mandate voting for citizens of voting age in a bid to combat electoral apathy and boost civic participation.

While leading the debate on the bill, Rep. Ago emphasized the need to increase voter turnout, noting that widespread disinterest in elections could be curbed if voting were made a legal obligation.

However, the proposal met some resistance. Rep. Mark Esset of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), representing Akwa Ibom State, argued that compulsory voting alone would not resolve deeper issues within the electoral process.

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“We must not place something on nothing,” Esset said.

“If citizens have lost trust in the system, simply making voting mandatory won’t fix it. Many Nigerians don’t vote because they believe their votes don’t count.

If we want to enforce voting, we must first ensure that every vote truly matters.”

The bill will now proceed to further legislative scrutiny.