The Speaker probably wants Nigeria to join Egypt the only African country out of 23 globally with compulsory voting laws,” he said

By Titilope Adako

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticised the National Assembly over a proposed bill seeking to make voting compulsory, describing it as unconstitutional and impractical.

The bill, co-sponsored by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and Labour Party lawmaker, Daniel Asama Ago, aims to amend the Electoral Act to mandate voting for all eligible Nigerians during national and state elections.

It proposes a six-month jail term or a fine of ₦100,000 for citizens who fail to vote.

Ago, representing Bassa/Jos North, said the bill is intended to tackle voter apathy and reduce vote-buying, citing Australia as a successful model of compulsory voting. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu backed the proposal, praising its potential to enhance civic responsibility.

However, Falana, in a statement issued on Monday titled ‘Compulsory Voting is Not Enough’, argued that the bill contradicts key sections of the 1999 Constitution, including provisions on privacy, freedom of thought, and freedom of conscience.

“The Speaker probably wants Nigeria to join Egypt the only African country out of 23 globally with compulsory voting laws,” he said.

Falana pointed to Sections 37, 38, 77(2), 135(5), and 178(5) of the Constitution, insisting that compulsory voting violates the fundamental rights of Nigerians and cannot stand legally.

He added that the proposed law lacks a constitutional foundation since Chapter II of the Constitution, which contains the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, is non-justiciable.

“Compulsory voting cannot be legalised in a vacuum. It is impractical to prosecute millions of Nigerians who may choose to boycott elections due to widespread misgovernance, corruption, and abuse of power,” Falana warned.

He noted that unless Chapter II of the Constitution is made enforceable, compulsory voting cannot be justified under the current democratic framework.

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