The House of Representatives was divided on Thursday over a bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting compulsory for all Nigerians of voting age in national and state elections.

The bill, which passed second reading during Thursday’s plenary session presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, was jointly sponsored by the Speaker and Daniel Asama, a lawmaker from Plateau State.

The proposed legislation stipulates penalties for eligible voters who fail to vote without valid justification, including a fine of N100,000, a six-month jail term, or both.

When first introduced in mid-April, the bill sparked public outrage with the National Association of Nigerian Students threatening mass protests in opposition.

Leading debate on the general principles of the bill on Thursday, Asama argued that the heart of democracy lies in citizen participation.

According to him, democracy thrives when people are actively involved in choosing their leaders and shaping governance.

“Voting is not only a right but a civic responsibility, and in many democracies across the world, it is treated as such,” he said. “This bill proposes to introduce mandatory voting for all Nigerians of voting age in general elections, both at the national and state levels. It seeks to amend the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, to reflect this obligation, while also allowing for limited and justified exemptions where necessary.”

Asama also raised concerns about the dual mandate of the Independent National Electoral Commission, which he said contributes to inefficiency and perceived bias.

“As it stands today, the Independent National Electoral Commission is charged with registration, monitoring, and regulation of political parties, in addition to its core constitutional mandate of organising, undertaking, and supervising elections. This dual role has increasingly proven to be a source of institutional overload, operational inefficiency, and in some instances, perceived partiality, especially during the pre-election period, when INEC is expected to make decisions that affect the status and operations of political parties that will also oversee elections.

“This challenge is not merely administrative, it is structural. When a single body is tasked with both organising elections and regulating the participants in those elections, questions arise about the independence, neutrality, and operational capacity of that institution.”

Highlighting low voter turnout as a critical issue, Asama noted, “Nigeria has consistently recorded alarmingly low voter turnout rates in recent elections. For instance, in the 2023 general elections, less than 30% of registered voters participated. This trend undermines the legitimacy of elected governments and weakens democratic institutions.”

He further argued that mandatory voting would foster civic engagement.

“By making voting a legal obligation, it will instil in citizens a sense of civic duty and shared responsibility in the governance process,” he said.

Citing international examples, Asama said, “Several democracies, including Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, have adopted mandatory voting with positive outcomes in terms of political participation and public accountability,” adding that the bill could reduce electoral apathy and vote-buying.

“Mandatory voting can significantly reduce the influence of vote-buying, as more citizens will be participating,” he added.

According to him, the bill seeks to amend the Electoral Act, 2022, to make voting in national and state elections compulsory for all citizens aged 18 and above.

 It also aims to establish a legal framework for enforcing mandatory voting, including appropriate sanctions for unjustified failure to vote and valid grounds for exemption, such as illness, religious objections, or living abroad.

The bill further intends to empower INEC to develop a system to track voter compliance and manage exemption requests without infringing on fundamental human rights.

Additionally, it aims to promote electoral education and awareness to help citizens understand the importance and value of their votes, ultimately contributing to deepening democracy in Nigeria by increasing participation and enhancing the legitimacy of electoral outcomes.

However, opposition voices emerged from the Peoples Democratic Party, with lawmakers Mark Esset and Awaji-Inombek Abiante challenging the rationale behind compulsory voting amid persistent electoral irregularities.

Esset, representing Uyo/Uruan Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, argued, “We are trying to put something on nothing. When citizens have lost confidence in voting, there is a lot of work to be done. If we make a law to make voting compulsory, we should make another law to make the votes count.”

Similarly, Abiante, a PDP lawmaker from Rivers State, said, “I agree that every adult man and woman should participate in deciding their leaders, but there are certain questions we need to ask. What are the incentives to make them go out and vote? Have they been assured of their security? We are talking of a country where the name Mike Tyson is still on the voter register. Do we have an authentic voter register?

“If you make voting compulsory, there are Nigerians in Ghana, the United States and everywhere. How do you bring them back to vote?”

Other lawmakers who spoke in favour of the bill included Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Tijani Ghali (NNPP, Kano), and Amadi Akarachi (APC, Imo).

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Electoral Matters for further legislative action.