Nigeria’s lower legislative chamber, the House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill to amend the Electoral Act 2022
The bill makes it compulsory for Nigerians of voting age to vote during elections
The proposed legislation was sponsored by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, and Daniel Ago.
Leading the debate during plenary on Thursday, Ago said the bill aimed to encourage citizens’ participation in the electoral process, noting that voter apathy during elections would be addressed if the bill scales legislative scrutiny.
Although the bill passed second reading, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party from Akwa Ibom State, Mark Esset, said enacting a law to make voting compulsory is not enough to sanitise the electoral system.
