The House of Representatives has taken a significant step toward making voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerian citizens. A bill to amend the Electoral Act 2022, which seeks to require Nigerians of voting age to participate in elections, passed its second reading on Thursday.
The bill was introduced by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, together with Daniel Ago. During the plenary session, Ago explained that the main goal of the bill is to increase voter turnout and reduce the common problem of voter apathy.
He expressed hope that if the bill passes through further stages, more Nigerians would actively take part in the country’s electoral process.
Despite the bill’s progress, some lawmakers raised concerns. Mark Esset, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party from Akwa Ibom State, pointed out that simply making voting compulsory might not be enough to improve the overall electoral system. He argued that more efforts are needed to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.
