Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has withdrawn the controversial bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians
The decision was confirmed in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, and made available to Channels Television on Monday.
Tajudeen said the move followed extensive consultations with stakeholders. He emphasized that the bill—which he co-sponsored with Daniel Ago, the lawmaker representing Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency—was introduced with noble intentions.
“From the outset, the bill was introduced with the best of intentions, which is to bolster civic engagement and strengthen our democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout,” the Speaker said.
He cited successful cases of compulsory voting in countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, where voter participation consistently exceeds 90 percent, as well as Argentina and Singapore, which have adopted similar systems.
However, he acknowledged that any reform must reflect the will of the people and respect individual freedoms.
“Lawmaking is ultimately about the people it serves,” he said. “Rather than compel participation, I am committed to exploring positive incentives and innovative approaches that will make voting more attractive and accessible to all Nigerians.”
Tajudeen added that the withdrawal would provide room for further dialogue on how to foster a culture of voluntary participation that upholds democratic principles and individual rights.
The bill, which had already passed second reading in the House, faced widespread criticism from the public and legal experts who questioned its constitutionality.
Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba, condemned the proposal, calling it “ridiculous” and unconstitutional. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Agbakoba declared he would rather go to jail than comply with such a law.
“Why would the National Assembly want to impose compulsory voting? Why don’t they reverse the question and ask why Nigerians are not interested in voting? What is causing the apathy?” he asked.
Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, also criticized the bill in a statement titled ‘Compulsory Voting is Not Enough’ issued on May 19, 2025. He argued that the proposal violated key constitutional provisions safeguarding the rights to privacy, freedom of thought, and the choice to vote.
“It is doubtful whether the Speaker and his colleagues have paid sufficient attention to the relevant provisions of the Constitution,” Falana said, listing Sections 37, 38, 77(2), 135(5), and 178(5) as being in direct conflict with the bill.
The withdrawal marks the end of a highly controversial legislative push and signals a shift toward more inclusive and voluntary approaches to civic engagement.
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Stupid people 😤! Very ignorant people in government. That’s why Nigeria will never move forward; and it’s not a course. They were ignorantly pushing for such outright ridiculousness, without first of all, finding out what the constitutional law says about such. And why would you even want to mention the said countries as a case study. Do those countries you are referring to rig election? You want to compel people to vote, when they already know you will still rig the elections ??? God punish all of you making a joke of this once upon a time giant of African …