INEC Begins Disability Engagement Ahead Of 2027 Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced strategic engagement with the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and cluster heads to boost the participation of persons with disabilities in the 2027 general elections.

The engagement focuses on sensitisation and mobilisation, with the aim of ensuring that eligible voters with disabilities receive adequate information and are meaningfully involved in the electoral process.

In a statement posted on its X handle on Wednesday, Acting INEC Chairman, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, said the engagement was timely as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.

Gumus said the commission was committed to making the electoral process inclusive, accessible and responsive to the needs of eligible citizens.

She noted that the participation of persons with disabilities is supported by 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.

Gumus stressed the need for innovative approaches to voter education, including disability-specific communication channels, community-based organisations, radio, social media and other assistive formats.

According to INEC, its available data, compiled before the introduction of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, recorded 137,487 persons with disabilities.

The figure comprises 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 Acting Chairman urged JONAPWD and OPDs to take ownership of the sensitisation process by reaching members across various disability clusters with information on voter registration, PVC collection, voting procedures, accessibility measures and other aspects of the electoral process.

She said the engagement would enable stakeholders to identify barriers to participation, share successful strategies and agree on practical measures to be implemented before, during and after the 2027 elections.

INEC Director of Gender and Inclusivity, Mrs Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, also highlighted measures introduced by the commission to improve accessibility for voters with disabilities.

The measures 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 are adequately informed and able to participate fully in the electoral process.

INEC has previously identified mobilisation and voter education targeted at persons with disabilities as an important measure for improving their participation in elections.