The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) organisations to take ownership of sensitising their members ahead of the 2027 general election.

INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja during a national strategy engagement with the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD).

The engagement also included Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs).

Mr Amupitan, represented by National Commissioner, Rhoda Gumus, said disability inclusion could not be achieved by INEC alone.

He said disability organisations, civil society organisations and PWDs themselves must collectively ensure an inclusive electoral process.

“We encourage JONAPwD and various OPDs to take ownership of the sensitisation process by sensitising their members within respective disability clusters,” he said.

According to him, cluster leaders are strategically positioned to communicate information on voter awareness, voting procedures and accessibility measures.

Mr Amupitan said the engagement was part of measures to ensure that no eligible voter was left behind in the 2027 general election.

He said the meeting demonstrated INEC’s commitment to an electoral process that was inclusive, accessible, participatory and responsive to eligible citizens.

The chairman disclosed that INEC’s available data, compiled before the introduction of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), recorded 137,487 PWDs.

He said the figure comprised 13,080 visually impaired persons, 9,299 hearing-impaired persons and 30,561 persons with albinism.

Others included 19,430 persons with physical impairments and 54,941 persons under other disability categories.

“These figures further demonstrate the need for sustained and targeted engagement to ensure that PWDs are adequately informed, mobilised and supported,” he said.

Mr Amupitan said participation of PWDs in elections was protected under Section 54 of the Electoral Act 2026 and the 2018 disability discrimination legislation.

He tasked participants with providing practical recommendations to address barriers affecting voting, access to information and political candidacy among PWDs.

The chairman also said INEC would replicate the engagement at the state level and translate agreed strategies into practical interventions at the grassroots level.

In her remarks, director, Gender and Inclusivity Department, Lakunuya Bello, described PWDs as an important constituency in Nigeria’s democracy.

Ms Bello said their voices, choices and participation were essential to the credibility and inclusiveness of the democratic process.

She said INEC had introduced measures including Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses, EC30 PwD forms and sign-language interpretation during collation activities.

“The Commission remains committed to strengthening accessibility and inclusion in the electoral process,” she said.

Ms Bello, however, acknowledged continuing challenges involving access to voter information and electoral facilities for PWDs.

She urged stakeholders to develop practical and sustainable strategies for reaching PWDs who might be excluded through conventional voter education channels.

“We should consider innovative approaches, including disability-specific communication channels, community-based organisations, social media, radio and other appropriate assistive formats,” she said.

The engagement focused on developing targeted sensitisation and mobilisation strategies to increase participation and turnout among PWDs during the 2027 general election.

INEC’s approved timetable fixes the presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, while the governorship and State Assembly elections will hold on March 6.

 (NAN)