Human rights lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has rejected the proposed bill seeking to make voting mandatory in Nigeria, saying he would rather be jailed than comply with such a law.
Speaking during a television appearance on Monday, Agbakoba criticized the National Assembly’s attempt to enforce compulsory voting, arguing that it ignores the root causes of voter apathy in the country.
“Look at the ridiculous one in the National Assembly about voting being compulsory. If that bill were to pass, I would say, ‘Agbakoba, we will not obey it.’ I’ll plead conscientious objection. I’d rather go to prison for six months than obey it,” he said.
He questioned the rationale behind the bill, asking,
“Why would the National Assembly want to impose compulsory voting? Why don’t they reverse the question and ask, why are Nigerians not interested? What is the apathy about?”
Agbakoba said disengagement from voting stems from years of exclusion and broken political promises, not a lack of civic duty. He added that exclusion is at the core of Nigeria’s democratic challenges.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, he expressed concern about a recurring pattern and warned that democracy in Nigeria cannot thrive if it continues to serve only a privileged few.
When asked whether the issue is the allure of public office or failed leadership, Agbakoba insisted that political dysfunction is the primary reason for low voter turnout.
The bill, which has passed second reading in the House of Representatives, seeks to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerians in national and state elections. It is co-sponsored by the Speaker and a lawmaker from the Labour Party.