The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pledged to improve access to polling units for persons with disabilities ahead of the 2027 general elections, promising to provide assistive materials and other voting support facilities.
The commission gave the assurance during a sensitisation programme in Kaduna, where it engaged persons with disabilities, electoral officials and disability desk officers on voter awareness, electoral rights and ways to eliminate barriers to political participation.
INEC Administrative Secretary in Kaduna State, Abba Yahaya, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to protecting the electoral rights of persons with disabilities and ensuring their inclusion in the democratic process.
Chairman of the Kaduna State chapter of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, Abubakar Adams, described the engagement as an important step towards addressing the longstanding challenges faced by persons with disabilities during elections.
He called for sustained collaboration between disability groups and electoral authorities to guarantee equal participation in the electoral process.
The National Orientation Agency also stressed the need for civic education and voter sensitisation to enable persons with disabilities to understand and exercise their electoral rights.
INEC said it would work towards providing assistive materials, voting aids and other support facilities to make polling units more accessible and allow eligible voters with disabilities to cast their ballots without discrimination.
Stakeholders at the programme said sustained public enlightenment, effective implementation of inclusive electoral policies and stronger institutional collaboration would be essential to preventing the marginalisation of persons with disabilities during the 2027 elections.
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