The House of Representatives was divided on Thursday over a bill which seeks to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting in national and state elections mandatory for all Nigerians of voting age.
The bill, which passed second reading at Thursday’s plenary session presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, was co-sponsored by the Speaker and Plateau State member Daniel Asama.
The proposed legislation imposes penalties on eligible voters who fail to vote without a justifiable reason, including a fine of N100,000, a six-month jail sentence, or both.
When the measure was first introduced in mid-April, it provoked widespread uproar, with the National Association of Nigerian Students threatening large protests.
On Thursday, Asama led a debate on the bill’s broad principles, arguing that citizen participation is central to democracy.
According to him, democracy thrives when citizens actively participate in selecting leaders and moulding governance.
“Voting is not only a right but a civic responsibility, and in many democracies across the world, it is treated as such,” he said.
“This bill proposes to introduce mandatory voting for all Nigerians of voting age in general elections, both at the national and state levels. It seeks to amend the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, to reflect this obligation while also allowing for limited and justified exemptions where necessary.”
Asama also expressed worry about the dual mandate of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which he said contributes to inefficiency and perceived bias.
“As it stands today, the Independent National Electoral Commission is charged with registration, monitoring, and regulation of political parties, in addition to its core constitutional mandate of organising, undertaking, and supervising elections.
“This dual role has increasingly proven to be a source of institutional overload, operational inefficiency, and, in some instances, perceived partiality, especially during the pre-election period, when INEC is expected to make decisions that affect the status and operations of political parties that will also oversee elections.
“This challenge is not merely administrative; it is structural. When a single body is tasked with both organising elections and regulating the participants in those elections, questions arise about the independence, neutrality, and operational capacity of that institution.”
Speaking on how low voter turnout is a critical issue, Asama noted, “Nigeria has consistently recorded alarmingly low voter turnout rates in recent elections. For instance, in the 2023 general elections, less than 30% of registered voters participated. This trend undermines the legitimacy of elected governments and weakens democratic institutions.”
He also argued that mandatory voting would foster civic engagement.
“By making voting a legal obligation, it will instil in citizens a sense of civic duty and shared responsibility in the governance process,” he said.
Alluding to international examples, Asama said, “Several democracies, including Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, have adopted mandatory voting with positive outcomes in terms of political participation and public accountability,” adding that the bill could reduce electoral apathy and vote-buying.
“Mandatory voting can significantly reduce the influence of vote-buying, as more citizens will be participating,” he added.
According to him, the bill aims to change the Electoral Act of 2022 to make voting in national and state elections mandatory for all individuals aged 18 and up.
It also intends to build a legislative framework for implementing mandatory voting, including suitable penalties for unjustified failure to vote and valid exemptions such as illness, religious objections, or living abroad.
The bill also proposes to allow INEC to create a system for tracking voter compliance and managing exemption requests without violating fundamental human rights.
Furthermore, it strives to promote electoral education and awareness to enable citizens to comprehend the significance and value of their votes, ultimately contributing to the growth of Nigerian democracy by increasing participation and legitimising electoral outcomes.
However, opposition voices emerged from the People’s Democratic Party, with legislators Mark Esset and Awaji-Inombek Abiante questioning the justification for obligatory voting in the face of recurrent electoral irregularities.
Esset, representing the Uyo/Uruan Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State, contended, “We are trying to put something on nothing. When citizens have lost confidence in voting, there is a lot of work to be done. If we make a law to make voting compulsory, we should make another law to make the votes count.”
In the same vein, Abiante, a PDP lawmaker from Rivers State, said, “I agree that every adult man and woman should participate in deciding their leaders, but there are certain questions we need to ask. What are the incentives to make them go out and vote? Have they been assured of their security? We are talking of a country where the name Mike Tyson is still on the voter register. Do we have an authentic voter register?
“If you make voting compulsory, there are Nigerians in Ghana, the United States and everywhere. How do you bring them back to vote?”
Other lawmakers who supported the bill included Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Tijani Ghali (NNPP, Kano), and Amadi Akarachi (APC, Imo).
The proposed bill has been referred to the House Committee on Electoral Matters for further legislative action.
