What SERAP told NASS as move to 'jail eligible Nigerians who refuse to vote' advances

• SERAP has condemned a projected measure successful the National Assembly that seeks to marque voting mandatory
• The enactment urged lawmakers to retreat the measure and alternatively absorption connected electoral reforms, specified arsenic removing immunity for governors progressive successful electoral malpractice
• SERAP warned that if the measure is passed into law, it would instrumentality ineligible enactment to situation its enforcement, emphasizing that ideology should beryllium based connected escaped participation, not coercion

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has powerfully opposed a projected measure successful the National Assembly seeking to marque voting compulsory, informing that its repressive provisions would interruption cardinal rights.

The bill, presently nether consideration, prescribes a six-month jailhouse term, a good of ₦100,000, oregon both, for eligible voters who neglect to enactment successful nationalist and authorities elections.

SERAP Vows To Take Action As NASS Move To Jail Eligible Nigerians Who Fail To Vote During Election
Source: Twitter

In a missive dated March 29, 2025, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the enactment urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to instantly retreat the bill, Vanguard reported.

Instead, SERAP called for law amendments to region immunity for authorities governors and their deputies who prosecute successful electoral offenses, including vote-buying, to guarantee their prosecution.

SERAP calls for electoral reforms

SERAP emphasized that alternatively than imposing punitive measures connected citizens who take not to vote, lawmakers should absorption connected electoral reforms that beforehand transparency and accountability.

The enactment argued that the astir effectual attack to addressing elector apathy is to make a unafraid and conducive voting environment, combat electoral malpractice, and reconstruct nationalist assurance successful the antiauthoritarian process.

According to SERAP, penalizing Nigerians for abstaining from elections contradicts the principles of ideology and the close to governmental participation.

The radical asserted that information successful elections should beryllium voluntary, not enforced done coercion, The Punch reported.

"Jailing citizens for opting not to ballot is inconsistent with antiauthoritarian principles and Nigeria’s quality rights obligations. Voting is simply a right, not an obligation, and immoderate effort to criminalize abstention is unconstitutional," SERAP stated.

SERAP threatens ineligible action

The enactment besides warned that if the measure is passed into instrumentality and receives statesmanlike assent, it would situation its legality successful tribunal to forestall its enforcement.

It described the projected authorities arsenic impractical and a usurpation of cardinal quality rights.

SERAP further criticized the National Assembly for failing to code pressing electoral issues specified arsenic the power of wealth successful politics and governmental violence.

The radical urged lawmakers to prioritize bills that would curb elector suppression, amended electoral technology, and guarantee escaped and just elections alternatively than resorting to punitive measures.

The missive stressed that effectual ideology is built connected trust, participation, and respect for citizens’ rights, not coercion.

It called connected the National Assembly to present laws that fortify electoral integrity and guarantee that each Nigerians tin ballot freely and securely without fearfulness of intimidation oregon punishment.

Bills to make 4 caller states walk 2nd speechmaking

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that from the study that the House of Representatives has passed 4 bills that are seeking to make 4 caller states crossed the state done 2nd reading.

From emerging report, the Green Chamber besides passed 38 different bills successful the determination to change the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and supply respective amendments successful the ongoing law reappraisal by the 10th Assembly.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck retired quality that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” artifact connected the location leafage and enjoy!

Source: Legit.ng