House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has withdrawn an electoral reform Bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act to provide for a minimum of six years imprisonment against citizens who refuse to vote during general elections.
The Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdillahi Krishi, announced in a statement that the Bill was withdrawn following extensive consultations with stakeholders.
The Bill, which Abbas co-sponsored with Daniel Asama Ago, passed the second reading on May 20 and has attracted public outcry from across the country.
The statement said: “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 other countries, like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, where it has helped sustain participation rates above 90 per cent, while other 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.
“This withdrawal will allow for time to further dialogue on how best to cultivate a culture of voluntary participation that honours both our democratic ideals and the rights of our citizens.”
The Bill sought to amend Section 46 of the Electoral Act to make it mandatory for persons of voting age in the country to vote at every national or state elections.
The Bill said: “It shall be mandatory for all registered voters who have attained the ‘majority age’ of 18 and above to vote in all national and state elections.
“A person who has attained the ‘majority age’ of 18 and above who refused to perform his civic duty to vote commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of not more N100,000 or imprisonment for a term not more than six months.”
