The Nigerian National Assembly is currently deliberating on a controversial bill that seeks to make voting compulsory for all eligible citizens, proposing stiff penalties for non-compliance. Hobnob News has learned that the bill, titled “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,” recommends a six-month jail sentence, a N100,000 fine, or both for individuals who fail to vote during elections.
The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which has called for its immediate withdrawal. In a formal letter dated March 29, 2025, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, described the bill as “entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.”
SERAP emphasized that the right to vote inherently includes the right to abstain, warning that coercing citizens into voting under threat of imprisonment infringes on fundamental freedoms and democratic principles.
Instead of punishing non-voters, SERAP urges lawmakers to redirect their efforts toward meaningful electoral reforms. Their recommendations include eliminating constitutional immunity for state governors and deputies involved in electoral offenses, barring partisan appointments as Resident Electoral Commissioners, and modernizing voter registration through technology.
The organization also cautioned that should the bill be passed and signed into law, it will pursue appropriate legal actions to challenge its constitutionality and stop its enforcement.
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