The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Abbas Tajudeen has, on Monday, withdrawn the Bill to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians.
He said that the withdrawal followed extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders.
The Speaker said that from the outset, the Bill was introduced with the best of intentions, which is to bolster civic engagement and strengthen our democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout.
“Compulsory voting has long been practised with notable success in countries such as Australia, Belgium and Brazil, where it has helped sustain participation rates above 90 per cent, while nations like Argentina and Singapore have also implemented similar measures to foster inclusivity at the ballot box”, Mr. Abbas said.
The Speaker acknowledged that lawmaking is ultimately about the people it serves, and that any reform must respect individual freedoms and public sentiment.
He noted that rather than compel participation, positive incentives and innovative approaches that will make voting more attractive and accessible to all Nigerians should be explored.
“This withdrawal will allow time for further dialogue on how best to cultivate a culture of voluntary participation that honours both our democratic ideals and the rights of our citizens,” he added.