Speaker Abbas Withdraws Controversial Compulsory Voting Bill After Backlash

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has officially withdrawn the controversial Compulsory Voting Bill, which sought to amend the Electoral Act 2022 and make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians.

The withdrawal was announced on Monday through a statement issued by Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the Speaker’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

“Following extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, he has decided to withdraw the Bill... to allow for further dialogue on how best to cultivate a culture of voluntary participation,” the statement read.

The proposed bill co-sponsored by Hon. Daniel Adama Ago, had already passed its second reading in the House earlier in May, triggering a wave of legal and civic backlash.

Several senior legal experts and human rights advocates, including Remi Falana, strongly criticized the bill, arguing that it infringed on the constitutional right to abstain from voting and failed to address the root causes of voter apathy.

Analysts suggest the bill’s withdrawal signals a legislative shift back toward voluntary civic engagement. Speaker Abbas emphasized that the goal now is to foster greater democratic participation through education and public trust, rather than coercion.

“We must honour both our democratic ideals and the rights of our citizens,” the Speaker’s statement added.