Mandatory Voting Is Not The Cure! – APC’s Okechukwu Slams Lawmakers Over Electoral Reform Plans

Osita Okechukwu, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged the House of Representatives to adopt key proposals from the Uwais Electoral Reform Report to foster broader voter participation across Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, Okechukwu praised the House for acknowledging public concerns over declining voter turnout—an issue he believes undermines electoral legitimacy, judicial integrity, and democratic institutions.

However, the former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria criticized the push for a law making voting compulsory, arguing that it unfairly penalizes citizens already disillusioned by electoral fraud and governance failures.

“Most Nigerians have been victims of rigged elections and biased judicial outcomes,” he said. “Punishing them for refusing to vote in such a broken system would amount to double jeopardy.”

His remarks come in response to a recently introduced bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to Make It Mandatory for all Nigerians of Majority Age to Vote…” The bill, sponsored by House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and co-sponsored by Hon. Daniel Asama, aims to combat voter apathy and reduce vote buying by mandating electoral participation.

While the bill’s sponsors point to successful examples of compulsory voting in countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, Okechukwu insisted that meaningful reform requires more than voter mandates.

He called for the implementation of Uwais Report provisions—especially public nomination of National and State Electoral Commissioners—to improve transparency and accountability in election management.

“The true fix for electoral malpractice and weak institutions lies in adopting reforms that promote independence and integrity within the electoral process,” he said. “You can’t expect different results if you keep doing the same thing,” he added, quoting Albert Einstein.

Okechukwu further cautioned that relying solely on digital tools like BIVAS will not ensure fair elections if appointments to key electoral positions remain politically compromised.

In closing, he applauded the House leadership for confronting Nigeria’s democratic challenges and urged them to embrace the Uwais Report as a roadmap for electoral credibility.

“With the APC controlling the presidency, over 20 states, and the national legislature, now is the most opportune time to restore democratic legitimacy and strengthen Nigeria’s global image,” he said.

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