A bill seeking to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerian citizens has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives. Sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the proposed legislation was extensively debated during Thursday’s plenary session and received broad support to move to the next legislative phase.
Nigeria, despite being Africa’s largest democracy with over 93 million registered voters as of the 2023 general elections, has continued to experience low voter turnout. Only about 27% of registered voters participated in the most recent election, a trend that has raised concerns about the strength and legitimacy of democratic governance in the country.
The bill aims to reverse this pattern by mandating electoral participation, thereby promoting stronger civic engagement and more inclusive representation. Speaker Abbas argued that making voting compulsory would enhance Nigeria’s democratic process by ensuring that more citizens take part in selecting their leaders.
Globally, mandatory voting is already practiced in countries such as Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, where voter turnout typically exceeds 90%. Supporters of the policy believe it promotes civic responsibility and strengthens political accountability. However, critics warn of possible infringements on personal freedoms and the challenges of enforcing such a law.
Concerns raised during the debate included how the policy would be implemented, especially in rural and insecure regions, and the potential difficulty of penalizing non-voters. Despite these reservations, the bill was adopted through a voice vote and has been forwarded to the relevant committee for further review and legislative consideration.
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