The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa State has reaffirmed the fundamental right of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to participate in the 2027 general elections like other eligible Nigerian citizens.
The electoral umpire also reiterated its deliberate measures to eliminate barriers hindering the participation of persons with disabilities in the country’s electoral process.
The Head of Voter Education and Publicity Department of the Commission in the state Aliyu Hassan Sha’aba disclosed this on Monday during a one-day engagement with the PWDs Electoral Officers (EOs) and Disability Desk Officers at Rockview Hotel Yola.
He explained that every eligible citizen regardless of physical visual hearing intellectual or psychosocial disability has the right to vote and participate in the electoral process without discrimination.
He said ‘Persons with disabilities have the same fundamental right to participate in elections as other eligible citizens. They (PWDs) have the right to participate in the electoral process without discrimination and to receive accurate information about electoral procedures.
‘Persons with disabilities have the right to exercise their franchise freely and without intimidation and be treated with dignity and respect by election officials. They have the right to also report barriers misconduct or other electoral concerns through the appropriate channels.’
He therefore called on the electoral officers to identify and document barriers preventing PWDs from accessing polling units and electoral information while strengthening collaboration with disability organisations and other stakeholders to address the challenges.
On voting arrangements he urged electoral officers to ensure that polling units are accessible to persons with mobility challenges including those using wheelchairs crutches and other assistive devices.
Sha’aba noted that INEC provides ramps to facilitate access to polling units and stressed that election officials should offer necessary assistance without compromising the dignity privacy and independence of voters with disabilities.
For persons with visual impairments he said officials must provide information on approved voting assistance and assistive procedures ensuring that such support complies with electoral guidelines and protects ballot secrecy.
He also called for appropriate communication support for voters who are deaf or hard of hearing including written instructions visual information and sign-language interpretation where available.
He cautioned that assistance provided to voters with disabilities must not be used to influence their choices disclose their voting preferences or undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
Earlier the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Nura Mohammed called for stronger partnerships among INEC disability organisations and civil society groups to improve electoral inclusion.
He said the commission’s interventions include Braille Ballot Guides for visually impaired voters EC30 PWD Written Instruction Posters for deaf voters magnifying glasses for persons with visual impairments and albinism and voter education materials in Braille jingles flyers and posters.
He stressed the need to train stakeholders on the proper deployment of these interventions and take voter education closer to PWDs through schools camps and settlements.
The REC said electoral inclusion must extend beyond election day to cover voter registration education sensitisation and participation as candidates.
He urged stakeholders to work collectively to implement INEC’s inclusive electoral guidelines adding that assistance to voters with disabilities must never be used to influence their choices or compromise ballot secrecy.