A bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

The bill, jointly sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Daniel Ago, was presented during Thursday’s plenary.

While leading the debate, Ago explained that the legislation aims to boost citizens’ participation in elections, arguing that it could help reduce voter apathy if it successfully passes all legislative stages.

However, Mark Esset, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party representing Akwa Ibom State, expressed reservations.

He argued that merely mandating citizens to vote would not be sufficient to reform the electoral system.

“We shouldn’t build on a shaky foundation,” Esset stated.

“Many Nigerians abstain from voting because they doubt the credibility of the process. If we’re going to make voting compulsory, we must also ensure that people believe their votes truly count,” he added.