House of Representatives has withdrawn the controversial bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting compulsory and to penalise eligible Nigerians who fail to vote in elections.

The bill, co-sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, and Daniel Adama Ago, had scaled second reading two weeks ago. It proposed legal sanctions, including possible jail terms for eligible citizens, who do not participate in elections.

However, the Speaker announced the withdrawal of the bill, yesterday, following widespread public outcry against it.In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the Speaker said the bill was introduced with the best intentions to boost civic engagement and address low voter turnout, which had plagued recent electoral cycles in Nigeria.

The statement reads: “The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, wishes to inform the public 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, which he co-sponsored with Hon. Daniel Adama Ago.

“From the outset, the bill was introduced with the best of intentions, which is to bolster civic engagement and strengthen our democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout. Compulsory voting has long been practised with notable success in countries such as Australia, Belgium and Brazil, where it has helped to sustain participation rates above 90 per cent, while nations, like Argentina and Singapore, have also implemented similar measures to foster inclusivity at the ballot box.

“Nevertheless, the Speaker acknowledges that lawmaking is ultimately about the people it serves, and that any reform must respect individual freedoms and public sentiment.

“Rather than compel participation, he is committed to exploring positive incentives and innovative approaches that will make voting more attractive and accessible to all Nigerians.”

The bill, which had sought to make voting compulsory for Nigerians of voting age was titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to Make it Mandatory for All Nigerians of Maturity Age to Vote in All National and State Elections and for Related Matters,” the proposed legislation seeks to introduce compulsory voting for eligible Nigerians.

It imposed a maximum of six months imprisonment or a fine of no more than N100,000 for Nigerians of voting age who failed to vote during elections.