The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commenced strategic engagement with the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and cluster heads to promote the participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the 2027 general elections.
The engagement, which focused on sensitisation and mobilisation, is aimed at ensuring that eligible voters with disabilities are adequately informed, effectively reached and meaningfully involved at every stage of the electoral process.
Representing the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, said the meeting was timely as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
She noted that the Commission was committed to building an electoral process that is inclusive, accessible, participatory and responsive to the needs of all eligible citizens.
According to her, the participation of Persons with Disabilities is supported by relevant legal and policy frameworks, including Section 54 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, and INEC’s Framework on Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in the Electoral Process.
She, however, stressed the need for innovative approaches to voter education, including disability-specific communication channels, community-based organisations, radio, social media and other assistive formats.
The Commission also disclosed that its available data, compiled before the introduction of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, recorded 137,487 Persons with Disabilities. The figure includes 13,080 visually impaired persons, 9,299 hearing-impaired persons, 30,561 persons with albinism, 19,430 persons with physical impairments and 54,941 persons under other disability categories.
The INEC Acting Chairman also urged JONAPWD and OPDs to take ownership of the sensitisation process by reaching their members within their respective disability clusters with information on voter registration, PVC collection, voting procedures, accessibility measures and other aspects of the electoral process.
Prof. Gumus said the engagement would help stakeholders identify barriers to participation, share successful strategies and agree on practical actions to be implemented before, during and after the 2027 elections.
Director Gender and Inclusivity , Mrs. Lakunuya Dorothy Bello highlighted some of the measures already introduced by INEC to improve accessibility, including Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses, the EC30 PWD form and sign-language interpretation during collation activities.
She added that the outcome of the national engagement would be replicated at the state level through Resident Electoral Commissioners, Electoral Officers and other relevant officials to ensure that agreed strategies translate into grassroots interventions.
The National President of JONAPWD, Mr Abdullahi Aliyu Usman, commended INEC for organising the engagement but called for broader and more strategic consultations involving more disability stakeholders.
He said such engagements would enable Persons with Disabilities to communicate their needs, identify gaps and propose solutions that could improve their participation in elections.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Barrister Ayuba Gufwan Burki, said the exact number of Nigerians living with disabilities remained difficult to determine, noting that the population was substantial.
Burki called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that millions of Nigerians with disabilities could participate fully in the democratic process.
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, described the engagement as timely, stressing that an election that fails to include the voices of Persons with Disabilities cannot be regarded as fully democratic.
Epelle commended INEC’s progress in implementing priority voting, which he said had been consistently achieved during recent off-cycle elections. He, however, urged the Commission to extend similar progress to polling-unit accessibility and strategic voter education.
Deputy Director Inclusivity INEC Habiba Abdulkareem Jatto outlined objectives aimed at strengthening collaboration among INEC, JONAPWD, OPDs, cluster heads and other stakeholders; increasing PVC collection and voter turnout among PWDs; promoting awareness of their electoral rights; identifying barriers to participation; improving the dissemination of voter education in accessible formats; and ensuring that no eligible voter is excluded because of disability.
The engagement followed a strategic discussion on the sensitisation and mobilisation of Persons with Disabilities led by the Executive Director of the Inclusive Friends Association, Grace Jerry.
The meeting concluded with internal stakeholders (Directors) reaffirming the need for sustained collaboration among disability organisations and other relevant bodies to promote accessible voter education, remove barriers, and ensure the full and meaningful participation of Persons with Disabilities in the electoral process.
