ABUJA, Nigeria – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to immediately withdraw a proposed voting bill that would impose a six-month prison sentence or a fine of N100,000 on Nigerians who fail to vote in national and state elections.
The bill, which is currently under discussion in the National Assembly, seeks to make voting compulsory for all eligible citizens.
The legislation prescribes severe penalties for those who do not vote, including the possibility of jail time or significant fines.
SERAP has strongly opposed this measure, describing it as “oppressive” and inconsistent with Nigeria’s constitutional principles and international human rights obligations.
In a letter dated March 29, 2025, signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization argued that forcing citizens to vote at the threat of imprisonment or heavy fines would violate their right to political participation.
“Jailing eligible Nigerians for deciding not to vote would be entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations,” the letter reads.
SERAP further emphasized that the National Assembly should focus on addressing the root causes of voter apathy by improving the electoral process, rather than penalizing citizens for their decision not to vote.
The organization argued that instead of enforcing compulsory voting, lawmakers should amend the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act to hold state governors and their deputies accountable for electoral offenses, such as vote-buying and electoral violence.
“Rather than proposing bills that would severely punish Nigerians who may decide not to exercise their right to vote, the National Assembly ought to propose bills to remove constitutional immunity for governors and their deputies who commit electoral offenses and undermine the integrity of the electoral process,” SERAP said.
The group also advocated for the explicit prohibition of political party members being appointed as resident electoral commissioners (RECs) for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as this could undermine the neutrality of the electoral body.
In addition, SERAP proposed several other reforms, including the mandatory inclusion of internet voter registration and the use of modern technology in casting and counting votes.
“Amending the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act to explicitly include the right of eligible Nigerians to vote and to vote securely would enhance the effective enjoyment of their right to political participation and representative democracy,” the letter stated.
The organization further warned that should the bill be passed and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, SERAP would explore legal options to challenge the constitutionality of the law.
“The idea of compulsory voting and jailing citizens for not voting is impracticable, unnecessary, and unlawful,” the letter concluded.
