The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, has reaffirmed that no eligible voter should be denied the right to vote because of disability or insecurity, calling for stronger collaboration between the Commission and security agencies ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
Amupitan made the call on Friday, October 23, 2026, at a high-level technical engagement on disability-inclusive election security and protection protocols held at the 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,” brought together representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, other security agencies, the European Union, TAF Africa, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and other stakeholders to strengthen safeguards for inclusive electoral participation.
The INEC chairman stressed that credible elections must guarantee every eligible citizen the opportunity to participate freely, safely and without discrimination. He noted that persons with disabilities must be protected against intimidation, harassment, violence and other barriers that could prevent them from exercising their voting rights.
He highlighted the legal frameworks supporting disability-inclusive elections, including the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended; the Electoral Act 2026; the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018; and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Amupitan also referenced INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2026, particularly Clauses 19, 21, 27 and 28, which provide for priority access, appropriate assistance and assistive voting materials to facilitate participation by voters with disabilities.
On election security, he underscored the critical role of the Nigeria Police Force in maintaining law and order, protecting lives and property, preventing electoral violence and ensuring a safe environment for voters. He urged security personnel to demonstrate professionalism, impartiality and sensitivity to the needs of persons with different disabilities.
He emphasised that assistance provided to voters with disabilities must respect their dignity, independence, privacy and freedom of choice, adding that disability inclusion should be integrated into security planning, personnel training, deployment strategies and incident-response mechanisms well before Election Day.
The INEC chairman further called for comprehensive security assessments to identify inaccessible polling locations, overcrowding, potential violence hotspots and communication barriers that could hinder voters with disabilities. He also stressed the importance of effective coordination among INEC, the police and other security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
Outlining priorities for the 2027 elections, Amupitan advocated clear disability-inclusive election security protocols, targeted training for police personnel on disability rights and accessible communication, stronger inter-agency coordination, accessible channels for reporting security incidents and sustained engagement with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities.
He maintained that electoral protection must extend beyond Election Day to cover voter registration, political campaigns, rallies, voting, collation and the post-election period, ensuring that persons with disabilities can participate meaningfully at every stage of the electoral process.
He urged stakeholders to translate the engagement’s deliberations into measurable actions, including clearly defined operational procedures, designated institutional contact persons, structured training programmes, joint security assessments and effective monitoring mechanisms ahead of the elections.
Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to working with the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, TAF Africa, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, development partners and other stakeholders to strengthen electoral security and promote inclusive democratic participation.
He also acknowledged the contributions of TAF Africa and the European Union to efforts aimed at advancing the democratic participation of persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons in Nigeria.
Describing electoral inclusion as a democratic imperative rather than an act of charity, the INEC chairman stressed that every eligible citizen must have a meaningful opportunity to vote without discrimination, insecurity or avoidable institutional barriers.
He commended the organisers and participating institutions for convening the engagement, expressing optimism that the discussions would produce practical measures to strengthen electoral security, advance equal participation and enhance public confidence in the 2027 General Elections.
Join Inclusive News Network WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.