Yiaga Africa Slams ‘Draconian’ Compulsory Voting Bill: Calls It a Threat to Democracy

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

A leading civil society organization, Yiaga Africa, has strongly opposed a proposed bill in the National Assembly that seeks to enforce compulsory voting in Nigeria, including a six-month jail term for eligible voters who fail to participate in elections.  

In a statement released on Friday in Abuja, Samson Itodo, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, labeled the bill as “draconian” and a violation of fundamental human rights. While acknowledging that the bill aims to tackle Nigeria’s abysmally low voter turnout, Itodo argued that its punitive measures are undemocratic.  

Itodo noted that while the bill attempts to address one of the biggest challenges in Nigeria’s electoral system, its heavy-handed approach infringes on citizens’ rights. “The right to abstain from voting is a legitimate form of political expression protected under domestic and international law,” he emphasized.  

Highlighting historical data, Itodo revealed that Nigeria’s voter participation has seen dramatic fluctuations: 1979: 34.6%, 1983: 38.9%, 1993: 35%, 1999: 52.3% (post-military rule surge), 2003: 69.1% (peak), 2007-2023: Steady decline, hitting a historic low of 27.1%  in 2023  

This sharp drop has positioned Nigeria as Africa’s largest democracy with the lowest voter turnout a crisis that demands solutions, but not through coercion.  

  

“Democracy thrives on freedom including the choice not to vote,” Itodo stated. “Compulsory voting undermines this principle, and punitive measures erode trust in democracy.” He pointed out that the bill fails to address root causes of voter apathy, such as:  Distrust in the electoral process, Election manipulation, Poor governance  

Rather than punishing voters, Itodo urged the National Assembly to focus on meaningful electoral reforms, including: Mandatory electronic transmission of results. Transparent INEC appointments. Early and diaspora voting. Stronger election integrity measures. 

“Voter apathy should be tackled through trust, electoral justice, and accountability not threats,” he asserted.  

Yiaga Africa has called on lawmakers to reject the compulsory voting bill and instead prioritize reforms that expand voter access, ensure transparency, and protect Nigerians’ political rights.  

(NAN)