The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decried the exclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) from elective positions by political parties in Akwa Ibom.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Anugbum Onuoha, said this at a press briefing on Thursday in Uyo.

“From our records, no political party fielded persons with disabilities for any elective position in Akwa Ibom, which is unfair.

“These are human beings who deserve to be elected into political offices to give them a sense of belonging,” Mr Onuoha said.

He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to an inclusive electoral process in which no eligible voter or group would be marginalised because of disability.

“We are strengthening the capacity of our staff to provide appropriate assistance to persons with disabilities during PVC collection and on Election Day,” he said.

Mr Onuoha said the commission would hold a sensitisation programme for persons with disabilities on Friday in Uyo.

He said the programme would involve the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPwD), electoral officers and other key voter education providers.

On preparations for the 2027 general election, the REC said INEC had successfully implemented nine of the 14 activities on its timetable.

He said the ninth activity was the publication of the final list of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates on Saturday.

Mr Onuoha reminded political parties to meet the deadlines for submitting the names of their polling agents to electoral officers across the state’s 31 local government areas (LGAs).

“The deadline for the Presidential and National Assembly elections is Dec. 10, while that for the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections is Jan. 6, 2027.

“Political parties are advised to comply strictly with these deadlines to facilitate the smooth coordination of electoral activities,” he said.

The REC also announced that INEC had begun recruiting eligible Nigerians as ad hoc personnel for the 2027 general election.

He advised interested applicants to visit the official recruitment portal, https://pres.inecnigeria.org/, and follow the application guidelines.

Mr Onuoha said the portal was expected to close on November 18, urging applicants to rely solely on official INEC channels for updates.

He said voter education and sensitisation remained central to the commission’s preparations for the elections.

According to him, INEC had visited 23 of the state’s 31 LGAs to encourage stakeholders to mobilise eligible voters in their communities.

Mr Onuoha further disclosed that the commission had begun receiving some non-sensitive election materials ahead of the polls.

He said INEC had tested the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and was ready for the forthcoming elections.

The REC urged political parties and their supporters to shun violence and vote-buying and support free, fair and credible elections. 

(NAN)