Speaker of the House of Reps, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas .

The House of Representatives were sharply divided on Thursday as a bill proposing compulsory voting for Nigerians of eligible age passed second reading during plenary.

The bill, jointly sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Daniel Asama of Plateau State, seeks to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting mandatory for all citizens during national and state elections. It prescribes penalties for non-compliance, including a fine of ₦100,000, a six-month jail term, or both, for those who fail to vote without valid justification.

During debate on the bill’s general principles, Hon. Asama argued that the strength of any democracy lies in active citizen participation. He noted that many democracies around the world, including Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, have recorded improved civic engagement through compulsory voting laws.

“Voting is not only a right but a civic responsibility,” he said. “This bill aims to amend the Electoral Act to reflect this obligation while also accommodating justified exemptions for illness, religious beliefs, or residence abroad.”

Asama also criticised the dual mandate of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which he claimed hampers efficiency and impartiality. According to him, the body’s role in both regulating political parties and conducting elections creates structural conflict and operational overload.

He added that the bill would empower INEC to develop systems for monitoring voter compliance and handling exemption requests without infringing on fundamental rights. The legislation, he stressed, would also promote electoral education and enhance voter awareness.

However, some lawmakers opposed the bill. Hon. Mark Esset (PDP, Akwa Ibom) argued that enforcing mandatory voting without addressing electoral fraud would be futile. “We are trying to put something on nothing. If we must make voting compulsory, we must first ensure that votes count,” he said.

Similarly, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP, Rivers) raised concerns over the integrity of the voter register and security at polling units. He questioned the feasibility of tracking Nigerians living abroad, asking, “How do you compel diaspora citizens to vote?”

In contrast, lawmakers including Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Hon. Tijani Ghali (NNPP, Kano), and Hon. Amadi Akarachi (APC, Imo) expressed support, highlighting the potential of the bill to reduce voter apathy and vote-buying.

The bill has now been referred to the House Committee on Electoral Matters for further legislative scrutiny. If passed, it would make Nigeria one of the few countries in the world to enforce mandatory voting through legal sanctions.