The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians, in a bold attempt to tackle voter apathy.
Sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Rep. Daniel Ago, the bill aims to turn voting into a legal civic duty, similar to tax obligations. This follows concerns over the low 27% voter turnout recorded in the 2023 general elections.
“If we can pay taxes, we should also be required to choose our leaders,” Rep. Ago said during the debate.
But not all lawmakers support the move. Rep. Mark Esset of Akwa Ibom warned that mandatory voting without fixing systemic flaws like rigging and insecurity would only frustrate citizens further.
The bill now heads to committee for further scrutiny, including consultations with the electoral commission, legal experts, and civil society. If passed into law, it would mark one of the most significant electoral reforms in Nigeria’s history.
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