Reps Speaker Abbas Bows to Pressure, Withdraws Compulsory Voting Bill

In a swift retreat, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has withdrawn the contentious bill seeking to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians.

The bill, co-sponsored with Hon. Daniel Asama Ago, aimed to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to enforce mandatory voter participation. However, following what he described as “extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders,” Abbas pulled the plug.

According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the Speaker said the bill was introduced with noble intentions—to drive civic engagement and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic culture.

He cited countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, where compulsory voting has kept turnout above 90 percent. But he noted that any legislative reform must reflect the will of the people and respect fundamental freedoms.

“Lawmaking is about the people. While the goal was to encourage mass participation, we must be mindful of individual rights,” Abbas stated.

He added that rather than coercion, the focus should shift to deploying positive incentives and innovative strategies to make voting more attractive and accessible.

With the bill now off the table, Abbas said the House would explore fresh avenues to build a voluntary voting culture anchored in democratic ideals.