House Passes Bill to Jail Non-voters for Six Months for Second Reading, Enforce Voting

The House of Representatives, has passed for second reading a bill seeking to make voting compulsory for Nigerians of voting age.

The Bill also proposed imposing a maximum of six months imprisonment or a fine of no more than N100,000 for Nigerians of voting age, who failed to vote during elections.

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,” the bill was sponsored by the Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

The bill, which was first introduced in February was presented at the plenary yesterday by the co-sponsor of the bill and member representing Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, Hon. Daniel Asama.

He explained that Nigeria’s persistently low voter turnoutundermines electoral legitimacy and weakens democratic institutions.

Asama stated: “Voting is not only the right, but a civic responsibility. For global precedents, several democracies, including Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, for instance, have adopted mandatory voting for the positive outcomes in terms of political participation and public accountability.

“For electoral apathy and voter inducement, mandatory voting can significantly reduce the influence of vote buying as more citizens vote.”

Contributing, the member representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, Awaji-Inombek Abiante questioned the bill’s practicality and enforceability.

His words: “It is not just enough to legislate compulsory voting. How will it be enforced? There are people who register in this country and they are in Ghana, they are in the US, they are in Australia, they are in London.

“Who will provide the logistics for them to come? If you say it is compulsory, you will probably deny them a renewal of their passports. So, how will they get to my village, for instance?”

Abiante warned against imposing penalties in a system still suffering from infrastructure deficits.

He questioned whether it would be fair to punish citizens who were unable to access polling units due to systemic challenges

In his submission, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu described the Bill as a good proposition and a step towards entrenching civic responsibility.

He noted that Nigerians were quick to condemn administrations, but slow to fulfil their civic obligations.

Kalu added: “In other climes that we have travelled to or lived, personally in Australia, it is actually an offence for you not to vote during elections. So, it is a good proposition coming out from you and the person that partnered you to sponsor this bill.”

On his part, the member representing Uyo/Uruan/Nsit Atai/Asutan/Ibesikpo Federal Constituency, Esset Udo, said he supported the spirit of the bill but expressed skepticism about citizens’ confidence in the electoral process.

He said: “It is a good and wonderful bill. Mandating citizens to vote is not the problem, but a situation where citizens have lost confidence in the system.

“We should also make a law that will make votes count. In the last election, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission and his officials gave all sorts of promises, but we saw all that happened.

However, Kalu shut down the comment, saying it was against the rules of the House.

But Abbas acknowledged Udo’s concerns and suggested that compulsory voting could actually help restore public confidence in leadership and governance.

Subsequently, the Speaker put the question to a voice vote. While a section of the chamber shouted “nay” more loudly, Abbas ruled in favour of the “ayes.”