Lafia, Nasarawa State – The newly deployed Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nasarawa State, Mallam Muhammad Sadik Abubakar, has called on Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) across the state to take advantage of the two-week extension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Mallam Abubakar made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Pioneer Executive Chairman of the Nasarawa State Disability Rights Commission (NSDRC), Hon. Saleh Barde Keana, at the Commission’s headquarters in Lafia.
Speaking during the visit, the REC explained that his mission was to formally introduce himself following his posting to the state, strengthen the existing partnership established by his predecessor with the Commission, and seek its support in mobilizing Persons with Disabilities to actively participate in the ongoing voter registration exercise.
He disclosed that the Continuous Voter Registration, initially scheduled to end on Friday, has been extended by an additional two weeks, creating an opportunity for more eligible citizens—particularly Persons with Disabilities—to register and secure their PVCs ahead of future elections.
Mallam Abubakar noted that INEC has recorded significant improvements in service delivery during the second and third quarters of the year, especially in promoting inclusive electoral participation. He reassured the disability community that every valid vote cast by Persons with Disabilities would count, emphasizing the Commission’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that PWDs are fully included in every stage of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Responding, Hon. Saleh Barde Keana welcomed the REC and his delegation to Nasarawa State and commended INEC for its continued commitment to inclusive elections. He reaffirmed the NSDRC’s readiness to partner with the electoral body in ensuring that all eligible but unregistered Persons with Disabilities in the state obtain their Permanent Voter Cards before the expiration of the extended registration period.
The NSDRC Chairman revealed that a substantial number of Persons with Disabilities in the state have already registered and collected their PVCs, including many individuals with disabilities who engage in street begging. He said the Commission would intensify awareness campaigns across disability clusters and communities in all 13 Local Government Areas of the state to encourage more eligible PWDs to register.
Keana further appealed to INEC to sustain and strengthen measures that guarantee accessible and inclusive elections by providing disability-friendly polling units, priority voting arrangements, and adequate deployment of assistive materials and other accessibility support for Persons with Disabilities on election day.
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