"No Need to Jail People for Not Voting" – Senator Shehu Sani Reacts as House of Reps Pushes Compulsory Voting Bill

 

In a move that has sparked public debate across Nigeria, the House of Representatives is considering a controversial bill that would make it compulsory for all eligible Nigerians to vote in elections—or face criminal penalties. But not everyone is on board with this idea. Prominent Nigerian politician and former senator, Shehu Sani, has openly criticized the proposed law, describing it as totally unnecessary.

The bill, which is sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, passed its second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday, May 15. This means it is now one step closer to becoming law, although it still has a few more legislative stages to pass through.

According to reports from LIB (Linda Ikeji Blog), the proposed law is designed to address the issue of low voter turnout in Nigeria. Over the years, voter apathy has become a big problem in the country, with millions of eligible citizens staying away from the polls during elections. This trend has raised serious concerns among lawmakers who believe that more participation is needed to strengthen Nigeria's democracy.

During the House debate on the bill, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, defended the proposal. He argued that civic duties like voting are essential responsibilities of every citizen in a democratic nation. To buttress his point, he referred to Australia, a country where voting is compulsory and failure to vote without a valid reason can lead to fines or other penalties. Kalu believes that implementing a similar system in Nigeria would help increase civic engagement and ensure more people take part in choosing their leaders.

However, not everyone agrees with this approach. Senator Shehu Sani, who is known for his outspoken views on governance and human rights, strongly disagrees with the idea of forcing people to vote under threat of jail time. He took to social media to voice his opinion, calling the bill "unnecessary".

“The Bill to jail Nigerians who refused to vote is unnecessary,” he said.

Senator Sani’s position reflects the concerns of many Nigerians who feel that voting should be a right, not an obligation enforced with punishment. According to them, democracy is about freedom of choice, and that includes the freedom to decide whether or not to participate in an election.

Critics of the bill argue that instead of punishing people for not voting, the government should focus on addressing the reasons why many Nigerians stay away from the polls in the first place. These reasons include lack of trust in the electoral process, fear of violence during elections, poor voter education, and logistical challenges such as long distances to polling units or delays in voting materials.

Some also worry that criminalizing non-voting could lead to the harassment of innocent citizens and further weaken civil liberties in a country where human rights abuses are already a major concern.

Supporters of the bill, on the other hand, believe it could serve as a wake-up call to apathetic voters and force more accountability in the democratic process.

As the bill moves forward in the House of Representatives, it is expected to face more scrutiny and possibly be amended based on public feedback. If it eventually becomes law, it could mark a major shift in Nigeria's democratic culture.

For now, though, voices like Shehu Sani’s are calling for caution and urging lawmakers to focus on educating and motivating citizens rather than punishing them.