Reps bow to pressure, withdraw mandatory voting bill
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Honourable Abbas Tajudeen, has withdrawn the controversial Compulsory Voting Bill.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, on Monday, the Speaker stated that, “Following extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, he has decided to withdraw the Bill to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians.
READ ALSO: Bill to make voting compulsory for eligible Nigerians passes 2nd reading
The bill, which has generated widespread outrage among Nigerians, was sponsored by Speaker Abbas and co-sponsored by Hon. Daniel Adama Ago.”
According to him, from the outset, the Bill was introduced with the best of intentions, “to bolster civic engagement and strengthen our democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout.”
Mandatory Voting Bill
On Thursday, May 15 2025, the House of Representatives passed for the second reading, a bill to amend the Electoral Act, 2022 to make voting in national and state elections compulsory for all citizens of voting age.
Sponsored by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen (APC, Kaduna) and the member representing Bassa/Jos North federal constituency of Plateau state, Hon. Daniel Asama Ago, the proposed legislation seeks to deepen democracy in the country through increased participation and legitimacy in electoral outcomes.
The bill also intends to provide a legal framework for enforcing mandatory voting for Nigerians above 18, and stipulate appropriate sanctions for unjustified failure to vote.
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