The House of Representatives has passed a bill for second reading to amend the Electoral Act and make voting compulsory for eligible Nigerians, with exceptions for illness, religion, and diaspora residence.
ICIR NIGERIA
The House of Representatives has moved to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting compulsory for eligible Nigerians. The bill, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Rep. Daniel Asama Ago (APC, Nasarawa), has passed second reading.
Speaking during plenary on Thursday, Ago said, “The bill intends to redefine voting as a legal obligation rather than a voluntary act,” adding that voter apathy threatens the legitimacy of elected governments.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu backed the proposal, citing Australia’s example, where mandatory voting improved political stability.
However, lawmakers including Mark Esset (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP, Rivers) raised concerns over enforcement and electoral credibility.
“If citizens have lost faith in the electoral system, mandating them to vote won’t solve the problem,” Esset said.
Abbas assured the House that exemptions for religion, illness, and diaspora residents were included. The bill has been forwarded to committee for further scrutiny and, if passed, will mark a major shift in Nigeria’s electoral policy.