House of Reps moves to make voting mandatory

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act, 2002, to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians

The bill, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Daniel Asama Ago, aims to address widespread voter apathy and boost citizens’ participation in national and state elections.

While leading the debate during plenary on Thursday, Ago, who represents Bassa/Jos North under the Labour Party, said mandatory voting would not only increase turnout but also reduce the influence of vote buying. “When every citizen is mandated to vote, it becomes more difficult for money to determine outcomes,” he said.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu supported the bill, calling it a “step in the right direction,” and cited Australia as an example of a country where compulsory voting has improved democratic participation.

However, not all lawmakers agreed. Some raised concerns about citizens’ distrust in the electoral process and questioned the integrity of the voters register. They argued that restoring faith in elections should come before enforcing mandatory participation.

The bill will now proceed to the committee stage for further legislative scrutiny.

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