2027: Persons With Disabilities Decry Barriers In Electoral Participation

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, persons living with disabilities have raised the alarm over barriers that may affect their participation.

They insisted that they face serious barriers in electoral participation, noting that with over 30 million citizens with disabilities, only 89,000 are registered on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) website, highlighting a stark disparity.

In an interview with LEADERSHIP in Enugu, the chairman Joint National Association of Persons living with disabilities (JONAPWD), Enugu State Chapter, Comrade Onyebuchi Mba, who spoke on behalf of his members, noted that the gap stemmed from previous registration templates lacking a column for disability indication.

Mba stressed that inaccessible polling units and voting materials, lack of assistive technologies like Braille ballots and sign language interpreters remained a serious challenge for them.

He added that they were also facing a challenge of insufficient training for electoral staff on disability issues and social stigma and exclusion.

To address the challenges, Mba urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure accessible polling units and provide assistive technologies.

He further appealed to the commission to train their staff on disability issues and voter rights as well as to promote awareness on inclusive voting practices

“INEC should collaborate with disability/Civil Society organizations to reach unregistered citizens with disabilities,” he appealed.

On street begging by his members, he pointed out that JONAPWD has been carrying out advocacy, awareness and sensitization to the public, particularly the unscrupulous individuals that use the vulnerable as source of livelihoods, using the media and partnerships with civil society organisations.

“Furthermore; Federal, States, and Local Governments should design and implement economic empowerment programs for citizens with disabilities, discouraging street begging.

“National and State Disability Rights Commissions should enforce the legally provided sanctions for exploitation/begging, like fines or community service.

“National/States Assembly should review and strengthen the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act/Laws, ” he stated.

Mba appealed to government at all levels to collaborate with disability organizations for support services and awareness campaigns, assuring that by addressing these issues, Nigeria can ensure inclusive electoral participation and protect vulnerable citizens.