Abbas Tajudeen, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has withdrawn a bill that would make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians.
The bill, which he co-sponsored with Daniel Asama Ago, aimed to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to encourage more people to vote and strengthen democracy.
Musa Krishi, his media aide, said in a statement on Monday that the decision to withdraw the bill was made after consulting with numerous individuals and groups around the country.
“From the start, the goal was to get more people involved in elections and strengthen democracy by boosting voter turnout,” the statement said.
The law passed its second reading in the House on Thursday, although it provoked discussion.
Some individuals supported it, believing it would increase voter turnout, while others thought it would limit personal freedom and be difficult to implement in a country as diverse as Nigeria.
Abbas, however, pointed out that nations like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil have high voter turnout thanks to compulsory voting but cautioned that Nigeria must find its own manner that suits its people.
“Lawmaking is about serving the people, and any new law must respect personal freedom,” Abbas said.
Instead of compelling people to vote, he stated that the government will instead seek measures to encourage voting, particularly among young people and first-time voters.
“This withdrawal gives us time to talk more about how to build a culture of voluntary voting that supports our democracy and respects citizens’ rights,” he added.
Many Nigerians had spoken out against the bill, urging leaders to focus on addressing issues such as election violence, a lack of trust in the system, and poor election day planning, all of which prevent people from voting.
