Nigeria, May 16 -- Yiaga Africa, an election observation and civic advocacy organisation, has rejected a proposed bill seeking to make voting compulsory for Nigerians of voting age.

The Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, gave the organisation's position on the bill in a statement on Friday.

The bill, which aims to address low voter turnout in Nigeria, passed its second reading in the House of Representatives on Thursday following extensive deliberation among lawmakers during the plenary.

The proposed legislation, first introduced by Speaker of the House Abbas Tajudeen in February, seeks to criminalise electoral abstention. Under the bill's provisions, eligible Nigerians who fail to vote during elections could face a pena...