Nigeria Needs Compulsory Voting – But Are We Ready?

By Daberechi Kingsley Ekejiuba

My late grandfather, Ekejiuba Nnubia, was a subsistence farmer, a man of integrity and a lover of God. Like most men of his generation, he was deeply interested in public affairs. I recall how he would grab his radio every morning to listen to the 7 a.m. news on FRCN, eagerly awaiting the signature tune and the prompt: “Radio Nigeria, uplifting the people and uniting the nation.” During our conversations, he would always call my name and say, “Daberechi, whenever you want to travel a road you have never traveled before, ask those who have been there how they fared—because there is hardly any road that no man has traveled.” His wisdom resonates powerfully today as Nigeria faces one of its most persistent democratic dilemmas: voter apathy.
Voter apathy, along with election-related violence and irregularities, continues to plague Nigeria’s electoral system.

While violence and irregularities can fuel apathy, apathy itself has neither resolved nor addressed the underlying issues. It has not strengthened our democracy either. In fact, irregularities are most rampant where apathy is highest, and election-related violence is often orchestrated by political actors to suppress participation and manipulate outcomes.

This creates a destructive cycle: Violence → Apathy → Irregularities → Victory. Many unpopular politicians exploit this loop to rig the system and get into office.

Renowned investor John Templeton once said, “The four most dangerous words in investing are, ‘It’s different this time.’” Meaning that in dynamic fields like investing, change is often limited. In Nigeria’s electoral context, I argue that the five most dangerous words are: “It’s the same every time.” Evidence shows voter turnout has not exceeded 35% in decades, and unless something drastic changes, this pattern will persist.
But how drastic must this change be, and what form should it take in a diverse society like Nigeria?
A fine of ₦100,000 (about $66.70) may seem extreme in a country where over half the population lives below the poverty line. Yet, choosing to sit out an election that could bring transformative leadership is both irrational and, in its own way, drastic.

Democracy, built on freedom, equity, and justice, suffers most not from autocrats but from everyday citizens who take their freedom for granted—people unwilling to defend the system that empowers them. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “There comes a time when silence is betrayal,” and “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
Compulsory voting, already practiced in countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, presents a viable way to increase civic participation and engagement. In practice, this can include mandatory election participation with options for conscientious objection or alternative civic duties. But critical questions remain: Are we ready? Do we have a trustworthy system like my grandfather had his radio? Should we focus on the causes of voter apathy rather than just its effects?

In a 2020 public video, I recommended compulsory voting, reducing the number of political parties, and implementing electronic voting as necessary reforms. I still stand by these recommendations, grounded in data and evidence. Though the number of political parties has been reduced to 18 and electronic voting was introduced in the 2023 elections (albeit inefficiently), over 65% voter apathy recorded in 2023 clearly showed that the ₦313.4 billion INEC spent was largely wasted. Over 67 million ballot papers, plus ink and other materials printed were not used. Assuming each paper cost ₦10, at least ₦670 million (more than a quarter of most states’ youth development budgets) was wasted on paper alone because citizens refused to participate. This is a heavy price for silence, and we must confront this waste.

The concept of compulsory voting is not new. Brazil, Australia, and Belgium have implemented it with notable success: increasing participation, strengthening civic duty, advancing the national will, encouraging political awareness, and reducing electoral irregularities. At face value, Nigeria shares many societal similarities with Brazil and Australia. Brazil has about 300 distinct groups and nearly 900,000 Indigenous people. Australia has over 250 tribes and numerous clans, and Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups. However, we must recognize important differences as well.

According to the IMF, nominal GDP per capita stands at $10,822 for Brazil, $64,547 for Australia, and just $807 for Nigeria. Brazil’s elections are fully electronic through Urnas Eletrônicas, while Australia uses a partially electronic system. Both countries enjoy higher election outcome approval ratings than Nigeria, reflecting greater public trust. In countries where compulsory voting is enforced, voter turnout consistently exceeds 75%, often reaching 85–95% in places like Australia, Belgium, and Uruguay. Nigeria can greatly benefit from this trend, but the infrastructure that supports such success in these countries must first be established to ensure the policy yields the desired results in Nigeria.

To realize the benefits of compulsory voting in Nigeria, adjustments are essential. I urge stakeholders to collectively develop a context-sensitive strategy that ensures compliance without harming citizens.
To support this transition, I propose:
Establishing a National Civic Education Program in partnership with civil society and youth organizations to instill the value of voting.
Improving INEC’s efficiency and credibility by amending Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution to remove presidential power to appoint the INEC National Chairman and Resident Electoral Commissioners.

Amending the Electoral Act 2022 to make electronic transmission of votes compulsory, harmonizing electronically collated results with physical ones before announcing winners.
Pilot-testing compulsory voting in state and local government elections.
Implementing gradual enforcement with incentives and non-penal disincentives for defaulters, since a ₦100,000 fine is unreasonable given Nigeria’s economy.

Benchmarking and adapting best practices from countries where compulsory voting works to fit Nigeria’s multicultural context.
While compulsory voting can deepen Nigeria’s democracy, we must prepare carefully. It should be a means to an end, not the end itself. Electoral reforms coupled with sustained civic engagement will give us the edge we need. When every Nigerian citizen is empowered—and required—to vote in free and fair contests, democracy will thrive, leaders will be accountable, and good governance will be within reach.

Daberechi Kingsley Ekejiuba
Policy Advocate/Youth Civic Engagement Expert/Advocate for Free, Fair, Inclusive, Violence-Free, and Credible Elections in Nigeria and Across Africa
May 22, 2025