Reps Speaker Abbas Tajudeen Withdraws Bill On Mandatory Voting

House of Representatives Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen has withdrawn a bill that sought to make voting mandatory for every eligible Nigerian.

He made the announcement through a statement by his media aide, Musa Krishi, on Monday, explaining that the decision followed wide consultations with various stakeholders.

The bill, which Tajudeen co-sponsored with Daniel Ago, a lawmaker from Bassa/Jos North, had already passed its second reading in the House before being pulled.

According to the Speaker, the proposal was introduced with good intentions — mainly to boost voter participation and deepen democratic engagement.

He pointed to countries like Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Argentina, and Singapore, where compulsory voting has helped raise voter turnout and promote inclusivity during elections.

“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,” he said.

However, Tajudeen admitted that while the goal was to strengthen democracy, forcing people to vote may not be the best approach.

Instead, he now believes in finding better ways to motivate citizens to willingly take part in elections.

Tajudeen added that withdrawing the bill allows time for more public discussion on how to build a voting culture that aligns with democratic values and protects individual rights.

He said, “Nevertheless, the Speaker acknowledges that lawmaking is ultimately about the people it serves and that any reform must respect individual freedoms and public sentiment.

“Rather than compel participation, he is committed to exploring positive incentives and innovative approaches that will make voting more attractive and accessible to all Nigerians.

“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.”

Many Nigerians had criticized the bill, arguing it violated their constitutional freedoms.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria Olisa Agbakoba said he would rather go to jail than be forced to vote, calling the bill “ridiculous.”

Agbakoba said, “Look at the ridiculous one in the National Assembly about voting being compulsory.

“If that bill were to pass, I would say, ‘Agbakoba, we will not obey it.’ I’ll plead conscientious objection. I’d rather go to prison for six months than obey it,” he said.

“Why would the National Assembly want to impose compulsory voting? Why don’t they reverse the question and say, Why are Nigerians not interested? What is the apathy about?”

Another legal expert, Femi Falana (SAN), also rejected the bill, stating that the constitution already guarantees citizens’ rights to privacy, freedom of thought, and the choice to vote or not.

Falana argued that the proposal clashed with several sections of the Nigerian Constitution and would not hold up legally.

He said, “The said constitutional provisions protect the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people to privacy, freedom of thought and conscience, as well as the freedom to register and vote in national and state elections conducted in Nigeria.

“However, it is doubtful whether the Speaker and his colleagues have paid sufficient attention to the relevant provisions of the Constitution.

“Otherwise, they would have realised that the compulsory voting is constitutionally invalid in every material particular on the ground that it is inconsistent with Sections 37, 38, 77(2), 135(5), and 178(5) of the Constitution.”

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