The House of Representatives has passed the second reading of a bill proposing an amendment to the Electoral Act 2022, which seeks to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerian citizens.
The bill, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and lawmaker Daniel Ago, aims to boost voter turnout by addressing widespread voter apathy.
During Thursday’s plenary session, Ago emphasized that the legislation is designed to encourage greater citizen engagement in elections, hoping it will motivate more Nigerians to participate in the democratic process.
Despite the bill’s progress, Mark Esset, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party representing Akwa Ibom State, expressed reservations.
He argued that simply mandating voting through law is insufficient to fix deeper issues within the electoral system.
Esset highlighted the need to restore public trust, stating, “If citizens have lost confidence in the electoral system, there is a lot of work to be done. Many Nigerians refrain from voting because they feel their votes do not matter. If we are to enforce compulsory voting, we must also ensure their votes count.”
