No voter should be denied right to vote — INEC chairman

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said no voter should be denied right to vote due to disability or insecurity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, stated this on Friday at a high-level technical engagement on disability-inclusive election security and protection protocols held at Abuja Inter-Continental Hotel, Abuja.

The engagement, themed “Securing the Vote for All: Advancing Inclusive, Safe and Rights-Based Electoral Participation Ahead of the 2027 General Elections,” was organised with representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, security agencies, the European Union, TAF Africa, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and other stakeholders.

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Amupitan said the credibility of elections depends not only on the voting process but also on the ability of every eligible citizen to participate freely, safely and without discrimination.

He said persons with disabilities must be protected against intimidation, harassment, insecurity and other barriers that could prevent them from exercising their franchise.

The INEC Chairman cited constitutional and legal foundations for inclusive participation, including the 1999 Constitution as amended, the Electoral Act 2026, the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, and Nigeria’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

He also referenced INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Conduct of Elections 2026, particularly Clauses 19, 21, 27 and 28, which provide for priority access, appropriate assistance and assistive voting materials.

On election security, Amupitan underscored the critical responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force in maintaining law and order, protecting lives and property, preventing electoral violence and creating a secure environment for elections.

He urged security personnel to demonstrate professionalism, impartiality and sensitivity to the needs of persons with different disabilities, noting that assistance must preserve voters’ dignity, independence, privacy and freedom of choice.

He stressed need to integrate disability inclusion into security planning, personnel training, deployment and incident-response mechanisms before Election Day, calling for security assessments to identify inaccessible polling locations, congestion, flashpoints and communication barriers.

He emphasised effective coordination among INEC, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES, particularly in information-sharing and prompt responses to emerging threats.

Outlining key priorities ahead of 2027 polls, Amupitan called for adoption of clear disability-inclusive security protocols, targeted training of police personnel on disability rights and accessible communication, stronger inter-agency coordination, accessible reporting channels and sustained engagement with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities.

He said electoral protection must extend beyond Election Day to cover voter registration, campaigns, rallies, voting, collation and the post-election period.

He urged participants to translate engagement into practical outcomes, including clearly defined operational procedures, designated contact points, training programmes, joint security assessments and monitoring mechanisms.

Amupitan reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to working with the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, TAF Africa, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and development partners.

He acknowledged the contributions of TAF Africa and European Union in promoting democratic participation of persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons.

He said electoral inclusion was democratic imperative rather than act of charity, adding that every eligible citizen must have meaningful opportunity to vote without discrimination, insecurity or avoidable institutional barriers.