Agbakoba Rejects Mandatory Voting Bill: ‘I’d Rather Go To Jail For Six Months

Prominent human rights lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has strongly criticized a proposed bill seeking to make voting compulsory in Nigeria.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Agbakoba declared he would rather face imprisonment than comply with such legislation.

“That bill in the National Assembly suggesting compulsory voting is absurd. If it ever becomes law, I’d reject it outright. I’d claim conscientious objection. I’d prefer to spend six months in prison than follow such a law,” he asserted.

Agbakoba argued that forcing citizens to vote fails to tackle the underlying causes of voter apathy in the country.

“Why is the National Assembly pushing for mandatory voting instead of asking why Nigerians are disinterested in elections? The real issue is the growing disillusionment with the political system,” he said.

He attributed the widespread lack of participation to decades of marginalization and broken political promises, not a lack of civic duty. According to him, exclusion lies at the root of Nigeria’s democratic shortcomings.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Agbakoba expressed concern about a recurring trend, warning that Nigeria’s democracy is bound to fail if it continues to benefit only a privileged few.