In a bid to address the issue of low voter turnout in Nigerian elections, former senator for Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has proposed imposing a “heavy fine” on those who collect their permanent voters card (PVC) but refuse to cast their ballot on election day.

Sani made this suggestion in an X post on Sunday, highlighting the need for measures to encourage greater participation in the democratic process. His comments come in the wake of the February 25, 2023 presidential election, which saw a mere 26.72 percent voter turnout, with only 24.9 million out of the 93.47 million registered voters exercising their right to vote.

According to a report by Premium Times, the 2023 election recorded the lowest voter turnout since Nigeria’s independence, with no state achieving a turnout above 40 percent. The report further stated that less than half of the eligible population turned out to vote in all 36 states.

Expressing his concern over the low turnout, Sani tweeted, “Heavy fine should be imposed for those who collected PVC but refused to vote. That is the best way to address the problem of low voter turnout.”,

While some have applauded Sani’s suggestion as a potential way to hold citizens accountable for their role in democracy, others have shifted the focus to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Critics have raised concerns about INEC’s alleged manipulation of the election process, particularly the reported switching off of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) without facing any legal consequences or repercussions from authorities such as the court.

These allegations have sparked a debate on the integrity of the electoral process and the need for transparency and accountability from the nation’s electoral body.

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