The House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, has withdrawn an electoral reform bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act to provide for a minimum of six years’ imprisonment against citizens who refuse to vote during general elections.
The Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, announced in a statement that the bill was withdrawn following extensive consultations with stakeholders.
The bill, which Abbas co-sponsored with Daniel Asama Ago, passed the second reading on May 20 and has attracted public outcry from across the country.
According to the statement, the bill was introduced with the best of intentions, which is to bolster civic engagement and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout.