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 enhance participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the 2027 general elections.
The engagement is focusing on sensitization and mobilisation, aimed at ensuring that eligible voters with disabilities are adequately informed, effectively reached and meaningfully involved at every stage of the electoral process.
The Acting Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, who represented the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, said the meeting was timely as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
She expressed the commitment of the Commission to building an electoral process that is inclusive, accessible, participatory and responsive to the needs of all eligible citizens.
Prof. Gumus informed that 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 sensitization 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 further explained that 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.
