Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and human rights lawyer, has criticized the proposed bill in Nigeria that aims to make voting mandatory. Agbakoba stated on Channels Television's ‘Politics Today’ that he would rather face imprisonment than adhere to such a law. He argued that the National Assembly's attempt to enforce compulsory voting does not address the underlying causes of voter apathy in the country.

Agbakoba expressed strong opposition to the bill, stating, "If that bill were to pass, I would say, ‘Agbakoba, we will not obey it.’ I’ll plead conscientious objection. I’d rather go to prison for six months than to obey it." He questioned the National Assembly's motives, suggesting they should instead investigate why Nigerians are disinterested in voting and address the root causes of this apathy.

Agbakoba believes that voter disengagement arises from years of exclusion and unfulfilled political promises, rather than a lack of civic responsibility. He emphasized that exclusion lies at the heart of Nigeria’s democratic shortcomings. Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Agbakoba warned that Nigeria's democracy cannot thrive if it continues to cater only to a select few.

Agbakoba reiterated that the core reason behind low voter turnout is the consistent failure of leadership and the unattractive nature of public office. The proposed bill, which has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives, seeks to mandate voting for all eligible Nigerians in both national and state elections. The bill is jointly sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Labour Party lawmaker Daniel Asama Ago.