INEC PWDs Participation is set to receive increased attention ahead of the 2027 general elections as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) begins strategic engagement with the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and cluster heads.
The engagement is focused on sensitisation and mobilisation to ensure that eligible Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are adequately informed, effectively reached and meaningfully involved at every stage of the electoral process.
Representing the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, said the engagement was timely as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
She said the Commission remained committed to building an electoral process that is inclusive, accessible, participatory and responsive to the needs of all eligible citizens.
INEC PWDs Participation Backed by Legal Frameworks
Gumus said the participation of Persons with Disabilities is supported by relevant legal and policy frameworks.
She cited 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.
The Acting Chairman also 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 disclosed that 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.
Gumus urged JONAPWD and OPDs to take ownership of the sensitisation process by reaching their members within their respective disability clusters.
She said the organisations should provide information on voter registration, Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection, voting procedures, accessibility measures and other aspects of the electoral process.
According to her, the engagement would also help stakeholders identify barriers to participation, share successful strategies and agree on practical actions to be implemented before, during and after the 2027 elections.
INEC Director of Gender and Inclusivity, Mrs. Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, highlighted measures already introduced by the Commission to improve accessibility for Persons with Disabilities.
The measures include Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses, the EC30 PWD form and sign-language interpretation during collation activities.
Bello said the measures were part of efforts to make the electoral process more accessible to voters with disabilities.
The latest engagement forms part of INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections and its efforts to improve voter education, mobilisation and accessibility for Persons with Disabilities.
The Commission’s collaboration with JONAPWD, OPDs and other stakeholders is expected to help identify participation barriers and develop practical measures to ensure that eligible voters with disabilities are reached throughout the electoral process.
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