Abbas emphasised that effective lawmaking must reflect the will of the people and uphold individual freedoms.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has officially withdrawn the bill seeking to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Monday, May 26, 2025, the Speaker’s Office said the decision followed “extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders.”
The bill, co-sponsored by Hon. Daniel Adama Ago, was intended to amend the Electoral Act 2022 and mandate voter participation.
According to the statement signed by Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, the bill was introduced with the goal of boosting civic engagement and strengthening Nigeria’s democracy through increased voter turnout.
“Compulsory voting has long been practised with notable success in countries such as Australia, Belgium and Brazil,” the Speaker noted.
“These countries have sustained participation rates above 90 per cent, while nations like Argentina and Singapore have also implemented similar measures.”
However, Speaker Abbas emphasised that effective lawmaking must reflect the will of the people and uphold individual freedoms.
“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 statement said.
The withdrawal, he added, creates space for deeper national dialogue on how best to foster a culture of voluntary voter participation that aligns with democratic values and respects citizens’ rights.