LAGOS — Renowned human rights advocate and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Femi Falana, has denounced a proposed bill seeking to make voting compulsory in Nigeria, describing it as a violation of fundamental rights enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
The bill, sponsored by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, prescribes a six-month jail term or a fine of ₦100,000 for eligible citizens who fail to vote in elections.
Speaking on Monday, Falana argued that the proposal is legally untenable and inconsistent with constitutional provisions.
“I doubt that the Speaker and his colleagues paid sufficient attention to the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution,” Falana said. “Otherwise, they would have realised that compulsory voting is constitutionally invalid in every material particular, as it contradicts Sections 37, 38, 77(2), 135(5), and 178(5).”
He maintained that these sections guarantee Nigerians the right to privacy, freedom of thought and conscience, and the voluntary nature of electoral participation at both state and national levels.
The bill, according to Speaker Abbas, is intended to tackle voter apathy, enhance civic engagement, and transition voting from a personal choice to a statutory obligation. However, critics like Falana insist that such compulsion infringes upon civil liberties.