The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has referred to as on the Nigeria Police Force and different safety businesses to strengthen measures to guard individuals with disabilities from intimidation, violence and different limitations throughout the 2027 normal elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, made the decision on Friday at a high-level technical engagement on disability-inclusive election safety and safety protocols in Abuja.
Amupitan mentioned electoral safety preparations should tackle the particular challenges confronted by individuals with disabilities, together with inaccessible polling items, communication limitations, harassment and threats of violence.
He mentioned the credibility of elections depended not solely on the conduct of voting but in addition on whether or not each eligible citizen might train the suitable to vote freely, safely and with out discrimination.
“The credibility of our 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 mentioned.
The INEC chairman careworn the necessity to defend individuals with disabilities towards intimidation, harassment and insecurity that might forestall them from exercising their voting rights.
He cited the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Electoral Act 2026 and the Discrimination DisabilitiesminaProhibit framework) 018Prohibitframework018 as authorized frameworks supporting inclusive electoral participation.
He additionally referenced Nigeria’s obligations beneath the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and INEC’s 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, which give for precedence entry, help and applicable voting supplies for individuals with disabilities.
Amupitan urged safety personnel to keep up professionalism and impartiality whereas making certain that help offered to voters with disabilities didn’t compromise their dignity, privateness, independence or freedom of alternative.
He referred to as for disability-related considerations to be integrated into safety assessments, personnel coaching, deployment plans and emergency-response procedures forward of the elections.
According to him, preparations ought to embody figuring out polling items which can be troublesome to entry, areas liable to congestion, potential safety flashpoints and communication limitations that might forestall eligible voters from casting their ballots.
The INEC chairman additionally advocated stronger cooperation among the many fee, the police and different safety businesses by way of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
He mentioned improved coordination would facilitate well timed information-sharing, make clear the obligations of taking part businesses and guarantee immediate responses to rising safety threats.
Amupitan recognized clear disability-inclusive safety protocols, specialised coaching for cops, accessible incident-reporting channels and sustained engagement with organisations of individuals with disabilities as crucial measures forward of the 2027 normal elections.
The engagement, held on the Abujal, introduced collectively safety businesses, the European Union, TAF Africa, organisations of individuals with disabilities and different stakeholders to develop methods for safer and extra accessible elections.
We’ve bought the sting. Get real-time experiences, breaking scoops, and unique angles delivered straight to your cellphone. Don’t accept stale information. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for twenty-four/7 updates →
