Rita Odafe
In response to widespread public criticism, Abbas Tajudeen, the speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, has retracted the disputed Compulsory Voting Bill aimed at altering the Electoral Act of 2022.
This announcement was made on Monday by Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the speaker’s special adviser for media and publicity.
He noted that the choice was made to provide an opportunity for more conversations about the contentious bill.
“After thorough discussions with a diverse range of stakeholders, he has opted to withdraw the Bill to Amend the Electoral Act 2022, designed to impose mandatory voting for all eligible Nigerians, which he co-sponsored alongside Hon. Daniel Adama Ago.”
This withdrawal paves the way for further discussions on fostering a culture of voluntary engagement that respects our democratic principles and the rights of citizens.”
In mid-May, a proposal to revise the Electoral Act 2022 to require mandatory voting for all eligible Nigerians successfully passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
However, legal professionals, including human rights advocate Remi Falana, opposed the initiative.
