House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen Withdraws Bill Seeking Mandatory Voting in Nigeria

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has officially withdrawn the controversial bill proposing mandatory voting for all eligible Nigerians.

The announcement was made in a statement released on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, and shared with Channels Television.

According to the Speaker, the decision came after wide-ranging consultations with key stakeholders. He clarified that the bill—co-sponsored with Daniel Ago, the lawmaker representing Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency—was introduced with the sincere aim of improving civic participation and strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.

“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,” Tajudeen said.

He cited countries like Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Argentina, and Singapore, where compulsory voting laws have reportedly helped maintain voter turnout rates above 90 percent.

However, acknowledging public opposition, Tajudeen emphasized that democratic reforms must reflect both the will and rights of the people.

“Lawmaking is ultimately about the people it serves, and any reform must respect individual freedoms and public sentiment. Rather than compel participation, I am committed to exploring positive incentives and innovative approaches that will make voting more attractive and accessible to all Nigerians,” he said.

He added that withdrawing the bill would allow for further national dialogue on fostering voluntary and inclusive voter participation.

The bill had already passed second reading before its withdrawal but had sparked criticism from legal experts and citizens alike, who argued that it infringed on constitutional rights.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Olisa Agbakoba openly rejected the proposal, declaring on Channels Television’s Politics Today that he would rather be jailed than comply with a compulsory voting law.

“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.

Human rights lawyer and SAN, Femi Falana, also condemned the bill. In a May 19 statement titled Compulsory Voting is Not Enough, Falana said such a law would violate citizens’ rights to privacy, thought, and conscience as enshrined in Sections 37, 38, 77(2), 135(5), and 178(5) of the Nigerian Constitution.

He questioned whether lawmakers had considered these constitutional safeguards before pushing for the legislation.

With the withdrawal of the bill, the Speaker reaffirmed his commitment to fostering democratic values without infringing on the freedoms of Nigerian citizens.