Politics
Disability, Insecurity Must Not Stop Nigerians From Voting – INEC Chairman
warned that no eligible Nigerian should be denied the right to vote
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has warned that no eligible Nigerian should be denied the right to vote because of disability, insecurity or other avoidable barriers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan called for stronger collaboration between INEC, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to guarantee safe, accessible and inclusive electoral participation for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
He spoke on Friday at a high-level technical engagement on disability-inclusive election security and protection protocols in Abuja.
The engagement, themed “Securing the Vote for All: Advancing Inclusive, Safe and Rights-Based Electoral Participation Ahead of the 2027 General Elections,” brought together security agencies, the European Union, TAF Africa and organisations representing persons with disabilities.
The INEC chairman said electoral credibility depended not only on the voting process but also on ensuring that every eligible citizen could participate freely, safely and without discrimination.
He stressed that persons with disabilities must be protected against intimidation, harassment, electoral violence and other obstacles that could prevent them from exercising their franchise.
Amupitan highlighted provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 and international conventions supporting inclusive electoral participation.
He also cited INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2026, which provide for priority access, appropriate assistance and assistive voting materials for voters with disabilities.
On election security, he urged police personnel to demonstrate professionalism, impartiality and sensitivity to the needs of voters with different disabilities.
He said security arrangements must preserve voters’ dignity, independence, privacy and freedom of choice.
The chairman called for disability-inclusive security protocols, specialised police training, accessible incident-reporting channels and improved coordination among security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
He further urged stakeholders to extend protection beyond Election Day to voter registration, political campaigns, rallies, voting, collation and the post-election period.
Amupitan said electoral inclusion was “a democratic imperative rather than an act of charity,” urging participants to translate their deliberations into practical measures ahead of the 2027 elections.
