Speaker Abbas withdraws mandatory voting bill amid public criticism

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has officially withdrawn the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 that sought to enforce compulsory voting for all eligible Nigerians.

This development was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, who said the Speaker’s decision followed widespread debate and consultations with key stakeholders.

“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, which he co-sponsored with Hon. Daniel Adama Ago,” the statement read.

Krishi added that the move aims to create space for more engagement on how to foster greater voter participation while respecting citizens’ democratic rights. “This withdrawal will allow time for further dialogue on how best to cultivate a culture of voluntary participation that honours both our democratic ideals and the rights of our citizens,” he added.

The bill, which passed second reading in mid-May, stirred public controversy, with notable legal experts and rights advocates, including Femi Falana, SAN, voicing strong opposition. Critics argued that making voting compulsory would infringe on individual liberties and run contrary to democratic principles.