The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the National Assembly to reject a proposed bill seeking to impose a six-month jail term or a fine of N100,000 on eligible Nigerian voters who fail to participate in elections.
In an open letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, SERAP argued that the bill contradicts the 1999 Constitution and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations. The organization warned that it is prepared to take legal action to challenge the bill and prevent its implementation.
Rather than penalizing citizens for not voting, SERAP urged lawmakers to focus on eliminating constitutional immunity for governors and their deputies involved in electoral malpractice. It called for amendments to the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act of 2022 to ensure that state executives who engage in vote-buying and other electoral offences are held accountable.
Additionally, SERAP advocated for reforms preventing political party members from being appointed as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a letter dated March 29, 2025, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization emphasized that addressing voter apathy requires fostering a secure and transparent electoral environment, tackling political impunity, and strengthening the electoral process—not coercion.
SERAP described the proposed mandatory voting law as impractical, unnecessary, and unconstitutional, asserting that the right to vote includes the right to abstain. It argued that democracy thrives on citizens’ free will, not forced participation, stating that voters should not be treated like “cattle to slaughter.”
“The National Assembly should prioritize legislation that curbs the influence of money in politics and promotes voluntary civic engagement,” SERAP stated.
The organization further noted that the proposed bill violates Section 14(1)(c) of the Nigerian Constitution, Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which Nigeria is a signatory.
To enhance political participation and restore public trust in the electoral system, SERAP urged lawmakers to amend the Constitution and Electoral Act to allow for online voter registration and integrate modern technology into voting, counting, and result reporting.
It also called for legislative measures that hold politicians accountable for electoral misconduct, including voter suppression, intimidation, and the destruction of election materials.
“The National Assembly must pass laws that strengthen democracy by punishing those who manipulate the electoral process rather than targeting ordinary citizens who choose not to vote,” SERAP concluded.
