Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has retracted the proposed Compulsory Voting Bill aimed at amending the Electoral Act 2022.
The announcement of the bill’s withdrawal was made on Monday through a statement by the speaker’s special adviser on media and publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi.
Krishi explained that the move was intended to allow for more discussions regarding the bill, which had sparked public debate.
“Following extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, he has decided to withdraw the Bill to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians, which he co-sponsored with Hon. Daniel Adama Ago.”
“This withdrawal will allow time for 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, which aimed to make voting compulsory for eligible citizens, had progressed to second reading in the House of Representatives by mid-May.
Nonetheless, it faced strong opposition from legal experts, including prominent human rights lawyer Remi Falana.
