National Coordinator of the Association of Former ANPP Members, Prof. Vitalis Ajumbe, has stated that voting remains a voluntary civic action and should not be made mandatory.
Ajumbe made this known during an interview in Abuja on Monday.
Correspondent reports that a bill seeking to make voting compulsory passed second reading in the House of Representatives on Thursday.
The bill, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Daniel Ago, proposes an amendment to the Electoral Act, 2022, to address declining voter turnout.
Ago, in his lead debate, said the legislation aimed to transform voting from a personal choice into a legal responsibility, thereby boosting civic participation and engagement.
However, Ajumbe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), opposed the bill, arguing that certain professionals, particularly security personnel, may be unable to vote due to the nature of their duties.
“Voting is a voluntary action and not mandatory. Those who are behind the bill, are they saying that even those in detention should be allowed to come and vote?
“What of policemen and other security agents, must they also vote?” he asked.
Ajumbe urged lawmakers to redirect their focus to more pressing national issues rather than pursuing legislation on compulsory voting.
(NAN)