A bill seeking to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerian citizens has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives. The proposed legislation aims to amend the Electoral Act 2022 and was jointly sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Representative Daniel Ago.

During Thursday's plenary session, Representative Ago led the debate on the bill, emphasizing that the amendment is designed to increase citizen participation in the electoral process. According to Ago, the legislation could significantly reduce voter apathy in Nigeria if it successfully completes all legislative stages.

However, the proposal has not received unanimous support within the House. Mark Esset, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member representing Akwa Ibom State, expressed significant reservations about the bill's approach.

"We shouldn't build on a shaky foundation," Esset cautioned during the debate. "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."

Esset's comments highlight a broader concern about Nigeria's electoral system, suggesting that mandatory voting alone may not address the underlying issues of trust and credibility that contribute to voter apathy.

The bill will now proceed to the committee stage, where lawmakers will further scrutinize its provisions before it can advance to a third reading. If eventually passed into law, Nigeria would join a small group of countries worldwide that enforce mandatory voting, including Australia, Belgium, and Brazil.

Political analysts note that while compulsory voting might increase turnout figures, the effectiveness of such a measure would largely depend on complementary reforms to strengthen electoral integrity and public confidence in the voting process.