Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has withdrawn a controversial bill that proposed making voting a mandatory exercise for eligible Nigerians.
The bill, co-sponsored with fellow lawmaker Daniel Asama Ago, had aimed to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to boost voter turnout and deepen democratic engagement. It passed second reading in the House last Thursday but quickly sparked public debate.
While some Nigerians welcomed the idea, arguing it could drive civic participation, others criticised it for threatening personal freedom and questioned how such a law could be enforced in a country as diverse and complex as Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday, May 26, by his media aide, Musa Krishi, Abbas explained the decision was made after wide consultations with citizens and various groups across the country.
“From the start, the goal was to get more people involved in elections and strengthen democracy by boosting voter turnout,” the statement read.
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The Speaker acknowledged that countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil have seen higher voter participation through compulsory voting. Still, he stressed that Nigeria must find solutions that reflect its own realities.
“Lawmaking is about serving the people, and any new law must respect personal freedom,” Abbas said.
He said the government would now shift focus to finding ways to encourage voluntary voting, especially among young and first-time voters.
“This withdrawal gives us time to talk more about how to build a culture of voluntary voting that supports our democracy and respects citizens’ rights,” he added.
Public reaction to the bill had been largely negative, with many urging lawmakers to fix deeper issues that keep people away from the polls, such as election violence, distrust in the system, and poor logistics on voting days.