Abuja, Nigeria — The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has announced the withdrawal of the Bill to Amend the Electoral Act 2022, which proposed mandatory voting for all eligible Nigerian citizens.

The bill, sponsored by the Speaker and co-sponsored by Hon. Daniel Adama Ago, was intended to increase civic engagement and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy by boosting voter turnout. However, after thorough consultations with various stakeholders, the Speaker opted to retract the bill.

In a statement issued Monday by Abbas’ Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, the Speaker noted that the bill was introduced with positive intentions.

“The Bill was brought forward to encourage greater civic participation and enhance our democracy by increasing voter turnout,” the statement said.

Speaker Abbas highlighted that compulsory voting has been effectively practiced in countries such as Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, where voter participation regularly exceeds 90 percent. Similarly, countries like Argentina and Singapore have adopted comparable policies to promote inclusivity at the polls.

Despite these international examples, Abbas recognized that legislation must ultimately serve the people and respect their freedoms and opinions.

“Instead of mandating voting, he is now focused on developing positive incentives and innovative strategies to make voting more appealing and accessible to Nigerians,” the statement added.

Withdrawing the bill will create space for further discussions on how best to nurture a culture of voluntary voting that honors democratic principles and citizens’ rights.

This development marks a shift toward encouraging electoral participation through engagement and incentives rather than compulsory measures.