The National Assembly is currently preparing a bill which seeks to jail eligible Nigerians who fail to vote in national and state elections.
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,’ proposes making voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians.
These are the three (3) important highlights of the proposed law:
- The proposed jail term is six-month
- The proposed fine is ₦100,000—or both (that is, a jail term and ₦100,000)
- The bill holds voting as a citizen’s responsibility, not a right—equating it to similar civil responsibilities such as paying taxes.
However, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, to immediately withdraw a bill.