Global Rights, a leading civil society organization committed to the promotion and protection of human rights and democratic governance, has publicly joined the growing chorus of voices opposing a controversial bill currently before the Nigerian House of Representatives.
“The bill seeks to amend the Electoral Act of 2022 by making voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerian citizens. Under the proposed amendment, failure to vote would attract harsh penalties, including a fine of ₦100,000, imprisonment for six months, or both.
Abiodun Baiyewu, the Executive Director of Global Rights, recently spoke to journalists in Abuja, strongly condemning the bill as fundamentally undemocratic and urged that it be discarded without delay. According to her, such legislation not only undermines the principles of democracy but also risks alienating the electorate it aims to engage.
“We fully endorse the principle of civic participation and recognize the essential role that voting plays in a thriving democratic society. However, we categorically reject the notion that Nigerians should be compelled to vote under the threat of punitive measures.
“This proposal is not only misguided but also contravenes the very essence of democracy. While voting is indeed a civic duty and a vital responsibility for citizens, it must be motivated by genuine conviction and trust in the electoral system, rather than coercion or fear of punishment,” Baiyewu asserted.
She elaborated that a genuine democratic society fosters voluntary and meaningful participation, nurtured by public trust, comprehensive voter education, and broad access to the electoral process. “Participation must be inspired by confidence in the fairness and integrity of elections, not enforced through criminal sanctions. Democracy thrives on freedom of choice, and compulsion erodes this foundational principle,” she emphasized.
Addressing the often-cited concern of low voter turnout — notably, the less than 30 percent participation recorded during the 2023 general elections — Baiyewu explained that this phenomenon cannot be attributed simply to voter apathy or indifference. Instead, it stems largely from a deep-seated mistrust in the electoral process itself.
“This mistrust has been exacerbated by persistent issues that continue to plague Nigerian elections, including widespread electoral violence, rampant vote buying, the proliferation of hate speech, and the dissemination of disinformation. The escalating monetisation of politics, the use of thugs to intimidate voters, and the routine deployment of inflammatory rhetoric and fake news during campaigns have created a toxic environment. Under these conditions, many Nigerians have lost faith in the integrity, safety, and meaningfulness of elections,” she said.
Baiyewu further revealed findings from a recent research study conducted by Global Rights, which highlighted the extent of the problem. According to the study, an overwhelming 90.7 percent of respondents agreed that hate speech and fake news have significantly damaged social cohesion in the country.
Additionally, 67.5 percent of those surveyed reported that such negative rhetoric diminished their willingness to participate in the electoral process. The study also exposed widespread skepticism toward the judiciary, which often acts as the final adjudicator in election disputes, undermining confidence in electoral justice.
Given these realities, Global Rights maintains that the appropriate response is not to criminalize abstention from voting but rather to restore public confidence in the democratic process. “Lawmakers must leverage their oversight powers to ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fully complies with the Electoral Act and conducts elections that are transparent, credible, and free from manipulation,” Baiyewu urged.
She also called for concerted efforts to make Nigerian democracy more inclusive by addressing the systemic barriers faced by marginalized groups, particularly women, persons with disabilities, and young people. “Inclusion is key to strengthening democratic participation,” she noted. Moreover, she stressed the urgent need to hold accountable those responsible for electoral violence, which remains one of the most significant deterrents to voter engagement in the country.
The rights organization insisted that the foundations of democracy must rest on trust, fairness, and freedom—not coercion or compulsory measures.
“While supporters of this bill have correctly identified voter apathy as a serious challenge to our democracy, they are rushing to implement a solution that treats only the symptoms rather than addressing the underlying causes. If the true objective is to increase electoral participation, the focus must be on reforming and improving the electoral system, building public trust, and ensuring accountability—not on punishing citizens who have lost faith in a flawed and unjust process,” Baiyewu concluded.