From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has passed a bill for second reading that seeks to make voting mandatory during elections in Nigeria.
Sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the bill proposes a six-month imprisonment or a N100,000 fine for Nigerians aged 18 and above who fail to vote.
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”, it aims to address voter apathy, which has been a significant issue, as seen in the 2023 general elections where only 24,965,218 out of 93,469,008 registered voters cast ballots.
The bill has sparked debate, with critics arguing it addresses symptoms rather than root causes like distrust in electoral integrity.
It now moves to the Committee on Electoral Matters for further review.