The recent proposal to criminalize citizens who abstain from voting is not only tone-deaf but a dangerous deflection from the systemic failures that have fueled electoral apathy in Nigeria, a political analyst and Chancellor, International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights (ISSJHR), Dr. Omenazu Jackson, has said.
According to Jackson, the National Assembly, rather than confronting the root causes of mass voter disengagement, seems to be punishing the victims of a broken political system, warning that criminalizing abstention is not a solution to the nation’s voter apathy but an insult to an already betrayed citizenry.
He said electoral apathy in Nigeria is not born out of laziness or indifference but a direct response to repeated betrayals, selective justice, unkept promises, and institutions that serve power rather than the people.
“How can we demand civic responsibility from citizens when the state consistently fails to punish electoral offenders who subvert the democratic process with impunity? Ballot box snatchers, vote buyers, and their sponsors walk free, emboldened by a justice system that has become predictably silent at critical moments.”
“Even more troubling is the undue influence political actors hold over the appointment of electoral officers. A process that should be neutral and sacrosanct has become a strategic extension of partisan control. When those who oversee elections are perceived to be loyal to the ruling elite, trust in the entire electoral process erodes. Citizens begin to see voting not as empowerment, but as endorsement of a pre-determined outcome,” he added.
He also blamed voter apathy on the grave issue of political parties who win elections under grandiose manifestos only to govern with impunity and disregard. Jackson described such as not just mere political inconsistency but a criminal breach of public trust, saying, “The social contract between the electorate and the elected is broken, yet no consequences follow. When there is no accountability, the ballot loses its meaning.”
“To criminalize those who opt out of this compromised system is not just unjust—it is an amplified criminal boldness by a political class desperate to preserve legitimacy it has not earned. The state cannot force loyalty where it has failed to earn trust,” he stressed.
He reasoned that the path forward is not coercion but reform, affirming that genuine electoral reform can restore faith in democracy.
Also, he said enforcing strict penalties against electoral offenders, regardless of political affiliation, may help.
“Transfer the power of appointing electoral officers to an independent, credible body. Enshrine legal consequences for political parties that abandon their manifestos. Foster transparency, trust, and participation through open governance and civic education,” he noted.
Mrs. Agnes Nwakpa, a resident, blamed voter apathy on the failure of the political class to serve the masses well and fraudulent electoral processes.
She said, “The people are discouraged because their votes do not count, so you can’t blame them.
“Let the lawmakers do the right thing; until righteousness prevails and everyone is justified, the poor masses empowered and helped, nothing can change.”
Another resident, Emmanuel Moses, said, “The House of Representatives should know that a large number of Nigerians have lost trust in Nigeria elections due to the outcome of previous elections.”
