Compulsion is not democracy: CSO rejects proposed bill criminalizing Non-Voting

By Joy Baba-Yesufu

Global Rights Nigeria, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) has expressed strong opposition to a proposed amendment to the Electoral Act, 2022, currently under consideration in the House of Representatives, which seeks to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians. The bill proposes penalties of up to ₦100,000 in fines, six months’ imprisonment, or both for non-compliance.

While affirming the critical importance of civic participation and voting in a democracy, Executive Director of the organization Ms Abiodun Baiyewu described the bill as undemocratic and misdirected, warning that it risks further alienating the very citizens it aims to mobilize.

“Civic duty should be nurtured, not coerced voting must be a voluntary expression of trust in the democratic process — not an obligation enforced by fear of punishment.” She noted.

Ms Baiyewu further said that Nigeria’s persistently low voter turnout — including the sub-30% participation rate in the 2023 general elections — is not due to apathy, but stems from deep-rooted mistrust in the electoral process. This includes concerns over electoral violence, vote buying, disinformation, and the perception of a judiciary lacking in independence.

The organization pointed to findings from its report titled “Disarming Weapons of Lies and Hate: Countering the Weaponization of Identity-Based Hate and Fake News in Nigeria’s Elections”, which revealed that: 90.7% of respondents agreed that hate speech and fake news have damaged national cohesion while 67.5% said such rhetoric discouraged them from participating in elections.

These sentiments, Global Rights argued, reflect a broader crisis of confidence that cannot be solved by punitive legislation.

“The answer is not to criminalize disengagement, but to address the systemic failures pushing voters away,” the statement emphasized.

Instead of imposing legal penalties on non-voters, Global Rights urged lawmakers to use their oversight powers to ensure that:

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) complies fully with electoral guidelines.
Elections are transparent, secure, and credible.
Electoral offenders, including perpetrators of violence and vote-buying, are held accountable.
Barriers to participation for women, youth, and persons with disabilities are dismantled.
“Supporters of this bill have rightly identified a symptom — low participation — but have misdiagnosed its root causes,” “If the goal is to revive public engagement, then the real remedy lies in rebuilding electoral integrity, not punishing citizens for their disillusionment.” she maintained.

The organization reaffirmed its commitment to promoting civic engagement and protecting democratic freedoms rooted in trust, fairness, and voluntary participation.