A prominent chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has strongly opposed the House of Representatives' move to make voting compulsory during Nigerian elections, describing it as unconstitutional.

The House of Representatives recently introduced "A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act 2022, to make it mandatory for all Nigerians of majority age to vote in all National and State Elections and for Related Matters."

In a statement released on Saturday, Oguntoyinbo warned that the proposed legislation represents an attempt to interfere with citizens' rights and violates both civil liberties and democratic principles.

"In a democracy, voting is a civil liberty, not a legal obligation. Compelling citizens to vote through coercive measures infringes on their fundamental rights," he stated. "The bill is inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution."

The NNPP chieftain emphasized that Section 39(1) of the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to remain silent, dissent, and abstain from voting.

Oguntoyinbo further argued that the bill is not only undemocratic but also impractical, citing Nigeria's lack of a comprehensive citizens' database as a major obstacle to implementation.

"Adequate citizens' database is a precursor for compulsory voting, and the House of Representatives, like other Nigerians, knows that the country lacks adequate database to carry out such enforcement," he explained.

The politician described the proposed legislation as a misplaced priority, insisting that voting during an election should remain obligatory rather than compulsory, and that any attempt to make it mandatory would violate citizens' constitutional rights.

This development comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with electoral reforms and efforts to increase voter participation in the democratic process.