The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced strategic engagement with organisations representing persons with disabilities as part of efforts to boost their participation in the 2027 general elections.
The engagement brought together the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and cluster heads for discussions on sensitisation, mobilisation and accessibility.
Representing INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, the Acting Chairman of the commission, Prof Rhoda Gumus, said the initiative was aimed at ensuring eligible voters with disabilities were adequately informed and meaningfully involved in the electoral process.
“The Commission is committed to building an electoral process that is inclusive, accessible, participatory and responsive to the needs of all eligible citizens,” Gumus said.
She stressed the need for innovative approaches to voter education, including disability-specific communication channels, community-based organisations, radio, social media and other assistive formats.
Gumus said the participation of persons with disabilities was supported by legal and policy frameworks, including 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.
Section 54 of the Electoral Act 2026 provides specific safeguards for voters with disabilities and requires the commission to take reasonable steps to provide suitable means of communication and assistance, including Braille, large or embossed print, electronic devices and sign-language interpretation.
INEC said data compiled before the introduction of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System recorded 137,487 persons with disabilities.
The figure comprised 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 commission, however, described the data as being compiled before AFIS was introduced, meaning the figure should not be interpreted as a current count of all registered voters with disabilities.
Gumus urged JONAPWD and other Organisations of Persons with Disabilities to take ownership of the sensitisation process by reaching members across different disability clusters.
She said eligible voters needed timely and accurate information on voter registration, Permanent Voter Card collection, voting procedures, accessibility measures and other aspects of the electoral process.
“I urge JONAPWD and the Organisations of Persons with Disabilities to take ownership of this sensitisation process and ensure that members within your respective clusters receive timely and accurate information,” she said.
According to Gumus, the engagement would also help stakeholders identify barriers to participation, share successful strategies and agree on practical measures to be implemented before, during and after the elections.
Director of Gender and Inclusivity, Mrs Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, highlighted some measures already introduced by INEC to improve accessibility for voters with disabilities.
They include Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses, the EC30 PWD form and sign-language interpretation during collation activities.
The commission said the engagement formed part of its broader efforts to ensure that persons with disabilities were better informed and able to participate fully in the electoral process.
With preparations for the 2027 elections gathering momentum, INEC is also reviewing its regulations and guidelines for political parties, with participation of women, youths and persons with disabilities identified among areas receiving attention.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6.
INEC said its engagement with disability organisations would help translate existing legal and administrative provisions on accessibility into practical measures for the 2027 electoral process.
