Voter apathy: House of Representatives propose bill to make voting mandatory for all Nigerian adults

  A bill proposing compulsory voting for all eligible Nigerian adults has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. The legisla...

 A bill proposing compulsory voting for all eligible Nigerian adults has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

The legislation, jointly sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, and Hon. Daniel Ago, seeks to address widespread voter apathy and encourage greater participation in the country’s electoral process.

While presenting the bill to lawmakers, Hon. Ago argued that robust voter engagement is fundamental to the strength and integrity of any democratic system. He drew attention to the consistently low turnout in recent elections, citing the 2023 general polls, during which fewer than 30 percent of registered voters cast their votes.

“This persistent lack of participation erodes the credibility of elections and weakens our democratic framework.

“Voting should be regarded not just as a right, but as a responsibility. In some established democracies, such as Australia, voting is treated as a legal duty,” Ago said.

If enacted, the amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 would require all Nigerian citizens of voting age to take part in national and state elections. The proposed law includes provisions for valid exemptions and acknowledges circumstances under which individuals may be excused from voting.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu backed the initiative, drawing comparisons with practices in other democratic nations.

“In Australia, for instance, failure to vote is considered an offence, and there are legal and civic consequences. Certain public incentives may also be withheld from those who do not comply,” he said.

Despite the support, the bill sparked debate among members, with some questioning how such a law could be implemented in practice.

Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP–Rivers) expressed reservations about enforcement, urging lawmakers to focus on reforms that build trust in the electoral system.

“When people believe in the integrity of the process, they will come out to vote willingly,” he said.

After the discussion, Speaker Abbas forwarded the bill to the relevant House committees for further examination and legislative review.