The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas, withdraws the compulsory voting bill

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has withdrawn the contentious compulsory voting bill following widespread criticism from civil society organizations and activists. Groups like CISLAC and Yiaga Africa, along with numerous prominent legal experts, had largely deemed the bill undemocratic and impractical.

The bill aimed to amend the 2022 Electoral Act by introducing a six-month jail term or a fine of N100,000 for any registered voter who failed to cast their ballot during elections.

Co-sponsored by Abbas and Daniel Asama Ago, the bill had successfully passed its second reading on May 15.

However, the Speaker announced its withdrawal on Sunday night via a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi.

The statement read: “From the outset, the bill was introduced with the best of intentions… Nevertheless, the Speaker acknowledges that lawmaking is ultimately about the people it serves, and that any reform must respect individual freedoms and public sentiment.”

Abbas would now focus on “positive incentives and innovative approaches” to encourage civic engagement without resorting to coercion.