House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen has withdrawn a bill for mandatory voting in Nigeria after public consultation, acknowledging concerns about personal freedom and shifting focus to encouraging voluntary turnout

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has announced the withdrawal of a controversial bill that sought to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians.

Also read: Yiaga Africa statement on the proposed bill for compulsory voting in Nigeria

The decision, revealed in a statement by his media aide, Musa Krishi, on Monday, May 26, 2025, follows extensive consultations with various individuals and groups across the country.

The bill, co-sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen and Daniel Asama Ago, was initially designed to amend the Electoral Act 2022 with the aim of boosting voter turnout and, by extension, strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.

“From the start, the goal was to get more people involved in elections and strengthen democracy by boosting voter turnout,” the statement read.

While the bill had successfully passed its second reading in the House last Thursday, it immediately sparked widespread debate.

Supporters argued it would significantly improve voter participation, drawing parallels to countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, which maintain high turnout rates through compulsory voting.

Lawmaking is about serving the people, and any new law must respect personal freedom.

However, a strong opposing voice emerged, citing concerns that such a law would infringe upon personal freedom and prove challenging to enforce effectively in a diverse nation like Nigeria.

Speaker Abbas acknowledged these varying perspectives, emphasizing that while compulsory voting has worked elsewhere, “Nigeria must find its own way that suits its people.”

He reiterated a core principle of governance, stating, “Lawmaking is about serving the people, and any new law must respect personal freedom.”

Consequently, instead of enforcing compulsory voting, the government will now shift its focus towards exploring alternative strategies to encourage voluntary participation, particularly among young people and first-time voters.

“This withdrawal gives us time to talk more about how to build a culture of voluntary voting that supports our democracy and respects citizens’ rights,” the Speaker added.

Many Nigerians had voiced strong opposition to the bill, urging political leaders to prioritize addressing existing systemic issues that deter voter participation.

These include pervasive election violence, a general lack of trust in the electoral system, and poor planning on election days, all of which significantly contribute to voter apathy.