In a bid to strengthen civic responsibility and boost voter turnout, the House of Representatives is considering a bill that seeks to penalize eligible citizens who fail to vote during elections with a six-month imprisonment or a fine of N100,000.
Presenting the bill during Thursday’s plenary session, co-sponsor of the bill and member representing Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, Daniel Asama, argued that compulsory voting would deepen democracy, strengthen civic engagement, and reduce voter apathy.
According to him, democracy thrives when citizens are actively engaged in the process of selecting their leaders and shaping the direction of governance.