A bill proposing to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.
Sponsored by House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Rep. Daniel Ago, the bill seeks to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to tackle voter apathy and boost electoral participation. During the plenary debate on Thursday, Ago argued that mandatory voting would significantly improve civic responsibility and enhance democratic engagement.
However, the proposal drew criticism from some lawmakers, including PDP representative Mark Esset from Akwa Ibom, who argued that compulsion alone would not restore public trust in the electoral system.
“Many Nigerians do not vote because they believe their votes won’t count. If we must make voting mandatory, we must also ensure that every vote truly matters,” Esset said.
The bill will now proceed through further legislative scrutiny and possible amendments.
