INEC Chairman: No Voter Should Be Denied Right to Vote Over Disability, Insecurity

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, has called for stronger collaboration between the Commission, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to ensure safe, accessible and inclusive participation in the 2027 general elections.

Amupitan said no eligible Nigerian should be denied the right to vote because of disability, insecurity or avoidable institutional barriers.

He 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.

The engagement, themed “Securing the Vote for All: Advancing Inclusive, Safe and Rights-Based Electoral Participation Ahead of the 2027 General Elections,” brought together security agencies, the European Union, TAF Africa, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and other stakeholders to develop strategies for protecting vulnerable voters throughout the electoral process.

The INEC chairman stressed that credible elections go beyond the actual voting process, noting that every eligible citizen must have the opportunity to participate freely, safely and without discrimination.

He warned that persons with disabilities must be protected against intimidation, harassment, electoral violence and other challenges that could prevent them from exercising their voting rights.

Amupitan highlighted the legal framework supporting inclusive elections, including the 1999 Constitution, as amended; the Electoral Act 2026; the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018; and Nigeria’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

He also cited 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 for voters with disabilities.

On election security, the chairman emphasised the responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force to maintain law and order, protect lives and property, prevent electoral violence and ensure a secure environment for the conduct of elections.

He urged security personnel to demonstrate professionalism, impartiality and sensitivity when dealing with voters with different disabilities, stressing that any assistance provided must preserve their dignity, independence, privacy and freedom of choice.

The INEC chief further called for disability inclusion to be integrated into security planning, personnel training, deployment and incident-response procedures well ahead of Election Day.

According to him, security assessments should identify inaccessible polling units, overcrowding, potential violence flashpoints and communication barriers that could hinder the participation of persons with disabilities.

He also advocated stronger coordination among INEC, the police and other security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), particularly in information-sharing, clear assignment of responsibilities and prompt responses to emerging threats.

Among the measures proposed ahead of the 2027 elections are the adoption of clear disability-inclusive security protocols, specialised training for police personnel on disability rights and accessible communication, improved inter-agency collaboration, accessible incident-reporting channels and sustained engagement with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities.

Amupitan maintained that electoral protection must cover the entire electoral cycle, including voter registration, political campaigns, rallies, voting, collation of results and the post-election period.

He urged stakeholders to translate the deliberations into measurable outcomes through clearly defined operational procedures, designated institutional contact points, joint security assessments, appropriate training programmes and effective monitoring mechanisms.

The chairman reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to working with the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, TAF Africa, the European Union, disability organisations and other development partners to strengthen inclusive electoral administration and security.

He also acknowledged the contributions of TAF Africa and the European Union to efforts aimed at promoting the democratic participation of persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons in Nigeria.

Amupitan described electoral inclusion as a democratic imperative rather than an act of charity, insisting that every eligible citizen must have a meaningful opportunity to vote without discrimination, insecurity or preventable barriers.

He commended the organisers and participating institutions, expressing optimism that the engagement would produce practical measures to improve electoral security, expand equal participation and strengthen public confidence in the 2027 general elections.