Reps Want to Jail Nigerians for Not Voting. Here’s Why Voters Are Not the Problem

On Thursday, a bill to amend Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2022, mandating compulsory voting for all Nigerians of voting age, passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.

Sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Daniel Asama Ago, representing Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency of Plateau State, the bill aims to address voter apathy by enforcing participation in national and state elections.

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The bill’s supporters, both inside and outside the lower chamber, argue that mandatory voting will deepen democracy, reduce vote-buying, and enhance electoral legitimacy by ensuring broader citizen engagement.

However, this move has sparked debate, with critics questioning its practicality and relevance in a country where distrust in the electoral process is a significant barrier to participation.

Considering that the Nigerian government claims to operate under a democracy—a system where citizens are free to make personal choices without government interference—it is unclear how or why lawmakers are attempting to force all citizens to vote or risk imprisonment.

The attempt to compel voter participation also ignores decades of electoral malpractice by those entrusted with public office, which have caused tens of millions of voters to question whether their votes count.

It is no secret that elections in Nigeria have long been characterised by vote-buying and intimidation, electoral violence, low voter turnout, ballot box snatching, and over-voting. From local government to governorship and presidential polls, elections in Nigeria are often considered a “do-or-die affair”.

Therefore, forcing voters to participate in a flawed, low-trust system, as this bill proposes, may be the wrong solution to the right problem—and could well backfire.

The Bill for Mandatory Voting and Its Proponents

The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to Make It Mandatory for All Nigerians of Majority Age to Vote in All National and State Elections and for Related Matters,” was first introduced by Speaker Abbas in February 2025.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas is the main sponsor of the bill pushing mandatory voting in Nigerian elections

Due to the prominent involvement of the Speaker and the apparent support of Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, many observers regard it as a serious legislative effort with the potential to become law.

Co-sponsored by Hon. Ago, the bill proposes penalties for non-compliance, including up to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of ₦100,000 for eligible voters who fail to vote without valid exemptions, such as illness, religious objections, or residence abroad.

During the plenary session on Thursday, Ago led the debate, emphasising that low voter turnout—less than 30% in the 2023 general elections—undermines democratic legitimacy.

He cited global examples such as Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, where mandatory voting has boosted participation, arguing that it could curb voter apathy and reduce the influence of vote-buying through increased turnout.

Supporters, including Kalu, framed voting as a civic duty, noting that mandatory voting could foster a culture of responsibility and align Nigeria with other democracies where participation is legally enforced.

Opponents Say the Bill Is a Misplaced Priority

Despite passing the second reading, the proposal faced opposition, with lawmakers such as Mark Esset (PDP, Akwa Ibom) arguing that mandating voting fails to address the root causes of voter disengagement, particularly distrust in the electoral process.

“Let us not put something on nothing. If citizens have lost confidence in the electoral system, there is a lot of work to be done,” Esset said.

“Many Nigerians do not vote during elections because they believe their votes will not count. If we must make a law to make voting compulsory, we must also make another one to ensure their votes count.”

Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante (PDP, Rivers) echoed the sentiment, arguing that citizens would vote willingly if the process were transparent and fair.

The House of Representatives has moved to force mandatory voting for all Nigerians in elections

While the bill’s sponsors are right to highlight the need to revitalise democratic participation, mandatory voting in Nigeria’s current electoral context is a flawed approach. It appears to be the wrong solution to the right problem.

The proposal assumes that low turnout is primarily due to apathy or lack of civic responsibility, overlooking deeper systemic issues that deter citizens from voting.

There is a universal knowledge that Nigeria’s elections have long been marred by irregularities, including vote-buying, electoral violence, ballot box snatching, and allegations of result manipulation.

Such irregularities, which directly or indirectly led to destructive military coups in 1966 and 1983, continue to plague the country’s electoral system. The 2023 general elections, for example, were criticised for operational inefficiencies, technological failures in result transmission, and voter suppression—all of which eroded public trust.

In Lagos, many residents alleged they were beaten for having an appearance perceived as belonging to a specific ethnic group and were prevented from voting without the intervention of security officials. Surely, it is unjust to force citizens to vote under such a dangerous system without first addressing the flaws that keep voters at home on election day.

While this bill claims to be a solution to voter apathy, it risks further alienating voters who deeply distrust the electoral system and may not yield the inclusive, representative outcomes it seeks.

Moreover, democracy thrives on voluntary participation, not coercion. Mandatory voting could infringe on personal freedoms, compelling citizens to engage in a process they do not trust.

As the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) warned, such a law could undermine democratic principles by prioritising enforcement over free choice.

In a statement, SERAP urged lawmakers to focus on reforms such as removing immunity for governors involved in electoral malpractice, which would directly address systemic corruption.

Rebuilding Trust in the Electoral System is the Better Path

Despite several amendments to the Electoral Act in recent years, outcomes have rarely improved, as transparency continues to be lacking. For instance, the Electoral Act 2022 introduced provisions for electronic voter accreditation and result transmission, but poor implementation led to controversies in 2023.

Rather than compelling citizens to vote, lawmakers should prioritise reforms that restore faith in the electoral process. A transparent, credible, and inclusive system would naturally encourage participation, rendering coercive measures unnecessary.

If lawmakers wish to rebuild trust in the electoral system, they should amend the Act to mandate electronic transmission of results, with clear guidelines for collation and verification. They should reject the excuse that some communities lack Internet connectivity. If such communities truly exist, alternative Internet solutions should be arranged.

The most transparent way to begin winning back voter trust is to mandate the upload of all polling unit-level results to a secure public portal in real time. INEC should be required to reject results from polling units not uploaded by a set deadline. This move could reduce manipulation and build public confidence.

Furthermore, the Electoral Act should introduce strict punishments for electoral violence and voter intimidation, which often deter participation, particularly in volatile regions. There should also be robust security presence at all polling units to reassure voters that their safety will not be compromised as they exercise their franchise.

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Ultimately, voters are not the problem. Instead of targeting non-voters—who are symptoms of a deeper issue—lawmakers, including Speaker Abbas, Deputy Speaker Kalu, and others, would be better served by addressing the actual problem: the deeply flawed electoral system.

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