Coercing Nigerians to vote during elections unconstitutional – NNPP chieftain

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Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has criticized the House of Representatives’ decision to mandate voting in elections.

According to Oguntoyinbo, the MPs’ attempt to compel Nigerians to cast ballots in the elections is unconstitutional.

In a statement provided to ZINGTIE on Saturday, the NNPP leader expressed his viewpoint.

Lawmakers at the House of Representatives had introduced “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act 2022, to make it mandatory for all Nigerians of majority age to vote in all National and State Elections and for Related Matters.”

Oguntoyinbo, however, cautioned that such a move is an attempt to interfere with residents’ rights, characterizing it as a breach of democratic values and civil liberties.

He insisted that voting in an election is required, not optional, and cautioned that the law was an inappropriate priority.

Any attempt to make it mandatory, according to the NNPP chieftain, would be a breach of residents’ rights.

He siad, “in a democracy, voting is a civil liberty, not a legal obligation, saying compelling citizens to vote through coercive measures infringes on their fundamental rights. The bill is inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.

“Section 39(1) of the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of expression, which includes the right to remain silent, dissent, and abstain.

“The bill being introduced by the House of Representatives to make voting compulsory in Nigeria aside being undemocratic is not practicable because, among other things, the country lacks citizen’s data base.

“Adequate citizens’ database is a precursor for a compulsory voting and the House of Representatives, like other Nigerians know that the country lacks adequate database to carry out such enforcement”.

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