A controversial bill recently tabled in Nigeria’s House of Representatives proposed making voting compulsory and punishing non-voters with hefty fines or imprisonment. Unsurprisingly, widespread public outrage forced lawmakers to abandon the proposal. The bill aimed to amend the Electoral Act and punish eligible voters who fail to participate in general elections with a ₦100,000 fine, jail time, or both. While the proposal has been shelved, the debate it triggered revealed deeper issues within Nigeria’s political system—chief among them, a disconnect between lawmakers and the electorate.

Legislating Participation or Undermining Democracy?

The compulsory voting bill, co-sponsored by Speaker of the House Tajudeen Abbas and Representative Daniel Asama, represented a drastic overreach of legislative authority. It sought to criminalize abstention from the ballot box, equating civic duty with legal obligation. At its core, democracy thrives on freedom of choice. Compelling citizens to vote under threat of punishment strips away this essential democratic tenet. It shifts participation from a right to a forced duty—a shift that fundamentally contradicts democratic principles.

Supporters of the bill justified it by pointing to abysmal voter turnout. In the 2023 general elections, only 26.7% of registered voters cast ballots—the lowest since the return to democratic rule in 1999. Asama argued that countries like Belgium, Australia, and Brazil enforce compulsory voting with relative success. However, these comparisons ignore key differences in governance, public trust, electoral transparency, and voter access. Nigeria cannot simply copy and paste foreign laws without addressing its own democratic deficits.

Low Voter Turnout: A Symptom, Not the Disease

The real issue is not voter apathy; it is public disillusionment with politics. Nigeria’s electoral participation has steadily declined not because citizens are lazy or indifferent, but because they believe their votes do not count. Rampant corruption, misgovernance, electoral fraud, and judicial interference have severely undermined trust in democratic institutions.

Since the beginning of the Fourth Republic, the average Nigerian has witnessed elections marred by rigging, violence, and irregularities. Many elections are contested in court, with the judiciary sometimes overriding popular will. These conditions foster a deep sense of political alienation. When voters believe the process is rigged and that politicians serve only themselves, it is no surprise that participation wanes.

Instead of addressing these foundational issues, lawmakers attempted to legislate civic engagement through punishment. The withdrawal of the bill spared Nigeria from adding another undemocratic layer to its fragile electoral system.

The House’s Disconnect From Democratic Realities

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of this episode was that the bill had already passed second reading before it was withdrawn. It only lost momentum due to intense public backlash. This suggests that many lawmakers either did not fully grasp the bill’s implications or were unwilling to challenge it until they faced public pressure. The fact that Speaker Abbas co-sponsored it raises questions about the maturity and priorities of Nigeria’s legislative leadership.

Rather than fixing structural problems in the electoral process, the National Assembly appears more interested in cosmetic fixes. Legislators often rubber-stamp executive proposals, indulge in lavish allowances, and fail to exercise proper oversight. The infamous “bow and go” tradition—where nominees are confirmed without rigorous vetting—has turned confirmation hearings into formalities rather than checks on executive power.

For Nigeria’s democracy to survive and evolve, the legislature must reform itself. It should take cues from robust parliaments elsewhere, where debate is substantive, appointments are scrutinized, and laws are crafted in the public interest—not for political convenience or elite preservation.

Global Context: Compulsory Voting Is Not a Panacea

Advocates of mandatory voting often cite Australia, where non-voters face fines. However, the penalties are minimal, and imprisonment occurs only after persistent refusal to pay fines—not merely for abstaining from voting. In Brazil, voting is obligatory but exemptions exist for youths under 18, seniors over 70, and the illiterate. Belgium enforces compulsory voting, but it also offers streamlined voter registration and access.

These countries built trust in the electoral system over time and provided mechanisms that made voting accessible and fair. Their citizens see value in participation. In Nigeria, by contrast, the average voter must endure lengthy queues, dysfunctional systems, harassment, and sometimes violence, just to cast a vote that may not even be counted.

Moreover, getting a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) remains a logistical nightmare. Many Nigerians struggle to register due to poor infrastructure, INEC inefficiencies, and bureaucratic bottlenecks. Making voting mandatory without fixing these obstacles would only add legal penalties to an already frustrating process.

Reforms Nigeria Actually Needs

Instead of punitive voting laws, the National Assembly should prioritize reforms that restore trust and expand access. Key areas for reform include:

• INEC’s Independence: Amend the constitution to remove the power of presidential appointment for the INEC chairman. This would reduce executive influence over the electoral process.

• Voter Accessibility: Simplify voter registration, ensure timely issuance of PVCs, and streamline voting procedures to make them more efficient and secure.

• Electoral Transparency: Improve vote counting and result collation processes. Make real-time digital transmission of results mandatory to reduce manipulation.

• Security at Polls: Ensure adequate protection for voters during elections to eliminate violence and intimidation.

• Civic Education: Invest in long-term voter education to rebuild public interest and inform citizens of their electoral rights and responsibilities.

• Accountability in Governance: Politicians must deliver on campaign promises, practice transparency, and show ethical leadership. Nothing motivates voters more than the knowledge that their choices lead to real change.

Apathy or Awareness? Let the People Decide

Democracy must never operate on coercion. Participation should be voluntary and inspired by trust in the system. Citizens must believe that their votes matter—that their engagement can influence the direction of their country. When this belief is absent, no legal compulsion can make up for it.

The failure of the compulsory voting bill should serve as a wake-up call to lawmakers. Instead of treating symptoms with force, they should fix the disease eroding Nigeria’s democracy: distrust, dysfunction, and disenfranchisement.

In conclusion, genuine reform must begin with acknowledging that democracy is not just about elections; it is about representation, accountability, and inclusion. Until these principles guide Nigeria’s legislative and electoral frameworks, voter turnout will continue to decline—regardless of the law.