In Defence of Compulsory Voting in Nigeria: A Case For Democratic Responsibility – By Dr Monday Ubani SAN
The proposed legislation to make voting compulsory for eligible Nigerians, with a fine of N100,000 for default, is a bold, necessary intervention aimed at reinvigorating Nigeria’s fragile democracy. While concerns about state failure and individual liberty are valid, they must be balanced against the larger imperative of collective civic duty and national stability.
Section 24 of the 1999 Constitution lists civic obligations, including allegiance to the nation and respect for its symbols and values. Compulsory voting enforces one of the most crucial civic obligations, the duty to participate in choosing one’s leaders.
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In a democracy, the legitimacy of governance rests on popular participation. Abstention en masse weakens this legitimacy and erodes the mandate of elected officials.
Nigeria has witnessed dangerously low voter turnout, often below 30% of registered voters. This emboldens electoral manipulation, narrows the representative base of elected leaders, and leads to poor governance.
Compulsory voting would reverse this trend, making political office holders accountable to a broader electorate and diminishing the power of vote-buyers.
Over 20 countries including Australia, Belgium, Argentina, and Singapore have implemented some form of compulsory voting. In Australia, where fines exist for noncompliance, turnout rates exceed 90%.
These democracies have found that compulsory voting leads to more informed electorates, balanced representation, and a healthier democracy.
The N100,000 fine is not intended as punishment, but as a deterrent against apathy. Laws without consequences are meaningless.
Just as we compel citizens to obey traffic rules, pay taxes, and register births and deaths, so too can we compel voting, a process vital to
When voting is universal, marginalized voices are brought into the democratic process, especially in rural and economically disadvantaged areas.
Politicians would now have to appeal to broader interests, rather than micro-target a small voting base. This enhances issue-based campaigns and governance.
The failure of the state in certain sectors is not justification for citizens to withdraw from the democratic process, in fact, it is a reason to engage more forcefully.
By voting, citizens can change bad leadership and demand performance. Abstaining only perpetuates the status quo.
The law can include reasonable exceptions (e.g., health, age, travel, security impediments), so the punishment applies only to willful neglect, not inability.
A robust administrative mechanism, as seen in Australia, can accommodate this and ensure fairness.
Conclusion
Compulsory voting is not anti-democratic, it is pro-democracy. It transforms citizenship from a passive identity into an active responsibility. Nigeria’s democracy is still fragile and requires intentional policies that compel participation, broaden engagement, and build legitimacy.
By making voting a legal duty, we declare that democracy is not optional. It is the price we pay for freedom.
Dr M.O. Ubani SAN
Legal and Political Analyst.
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