Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba, has strongly opposed a proposed bill that seeks to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians. Speaking on a Channels Television programme aired Monday, Agbakoba said he would rather face imprisonment than be forced to vote.
The controversial bill, which recently passed second reading in the House of Representatives, aims to amend the Electoral Act to mandate compulsory participation in national and state elections. Sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Labour Party lawmaker Daniel Asama Ago, the bill is intended to reduce voter apathy and curb vote-buying.
Agbakoba, however, dismissed the proposal as a misdirected attempt to solve deeper political issues. “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 stated.
He argued that the real problem lies not in voter turnout but in citizens’ growing disinterest in the political system due to exclusion, unfulfilled promises, and lack of accountability.
“Why are Nigerians not interested in voting?” he asked. “If I know I’m going to get something—if there’s hope or interest—then people will come out. But we keep seeing the same pattern. Politicians disappear after elections and return only after four years.”
Agbakoba warned that forcing people to vote in a system they do not trust will only increase discontent and further alienate the public. “We have a system that excludes. Democracy cannot thrive when it benefits only a small elite.”
Supporters of the bill have pointed to Australia’s model of compulsory voting, which has shown high voter participation. Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu described the bill as “a step in the right direction,” insisting that it will strengthen democracy and reduce election manipulation.
But legal experts and civil rights advocates remain critical. Another respected SAN, Femi Falana, also spoke against the bill, describing it as unconstitutional and unenforceable.
In a statement titled “Compulsory Voting Is Not Enough,” Falana argued that forcing people to vote violates fundamental human rights guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, including the freedoms of thought, conscience, and privacy.
“It is practically impossible to prosecute millions of Nigerians who choose to boycott elections,” Falana said. “We need reforms that build trust, not laws that compel it.”
The debate continues as Nigerians weigh the potential impacts of the proposed legislation. While some see it as a way to strengthen democratic participation, critics warn that it risks undermining the very principles it seeks to uphold.
