Gladness Gideon
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has come down hard on the National Assembly over a controversial bill seeking to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians, describing the move as draconian, misguided, and an affront to citizens’ constitutional rights.
The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to Make Voting Mandatory for All Nigerians of Majority Age in National and State Elections,” proposes punitive measures including a fine of N100,000, a six-month jail term, or both for eligible voters who abstain from voting without valid justification.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday in Abeokuta, the association’s National Vice President for Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Akinbodunse Felicia, criticized the bill as not only “ridiculous but laughable,” accusing the legislature of chasing shadows while ignoring the critical flaws in Nigeria’s electoral system.
“The bill, if passed, will turn Nigeria into a global laughingstock. Where in the world is non-participation in elections treated as a criminal offence?” Akinbodunse queried.
She noted that rather than compelling participation through force, the National Assembly should focus on restoring public confidence in the electoral process, which many Nigerians perceive as deeply flawed and untrustworthy.
“It is a well-known fact that our electoral processes remain marred by irregularities and manipulation. Instead of fixing these issues, the National Assembly is choosing to further alienate Nigerians by proposing laws that infringe on their rights,” she added.
NANS, which represents the interests of millions of students across Nigeria, has vowed to resist the bill through mass mobilisation and civil engagement. Akinbodunse urged civil society organisations, labour unions, and other stakeholders to unite in opposition to what she described as a “legislative misadventure.”
She stressed that while civic engagement is essential to democracy, it must be encouraged through trust-building and transparency, not through coercion.
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“The idea that young Nigerians could be fined or imprisoned for exercising their right to abstain from an electoral process they no longer believe in is not only undemocratic—it is dangerous,” the statement continued.
Critics of the bill argue that compelling citizens to vote under threat of punishment undermines the very principles of freedom and democratic choice. Proponents, however, have claimed the legislation is a necessary step to curb widespread voter apathy and boost civic responsibility.
Nonetheless, the backlash continues to grow, with NANS now positioning itself at the forefront of opposition to the bill, calling on the lawmakers to redirect their efforts toward strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring credible elections, and protecting the rights of the electorate.
As the debate around the bill intensifies, observers say its passage could set a precedent with far-reaching implications for civil liberties in Nigeria.