Reps in severe headwind withdraw Compulsory Voting Bill after pushback from opinion leaders, lawyers
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Lawmakers in severe headwind have withdrawn the Compulsory Voting Bill which came under attack from opinion leaders and lawyers, including Olisa Agbakoba and Femi Falana, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).
The bill already passed second reading in the House of Representatives, but critics knock it for its futility in trying to force Nigerians to the ballot box in order for politicians to validate rigged elections with mass voter participation.
Nigerians have increasingly refrained from voting because of their monumental lack of trust in the electoral process – which they voice out loud and clear to the hearing of everyone.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas – who introduced the bill co-sponsored by Daniel Ago – announced the withdrawal after consultation with stakeholders.
He had originally argued that the bill would bolster civic engagement and strengthen democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout.
Abbas said instead of compelling participation, he is now committed to exploring positive incentives and innovative approaches to make voting more attractive and accessible to all Nigerians.
The withdrawal of the bill will allow for further dialogue on how to cultivate a culture of voluntary participation that honors democratic ideals and citizens’ rights, he stressed in a statement issued on Monday through his Media Adviser Musa Krishi.
“Following extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, he has decided to withdraw the Bill to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians, which he co-sponsored with Hon. Daniel Adama Ago,” the statement explained.
“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.”
Read also:
