2027: INEC pledges barrier-free voting for people with disabilities
By Boye Oyeyemi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pledged to remove barriers preventing persons with disabilities (PWDs) from participating fully in the 2027 general elections in Ondo State.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, gave the assurance on Wednesday during a workshop on electoral inclusion for PWDs in Akure, saying the commission was committed to protecting the voting rights of every eligible Nigerian.
Agboke said INEC would work to improve access to polling units and ease the collection of Permanent Voter Cards by persons with disabilities ahead of the elections.
He added that electoral officials and security personnel would be expected to treat PWDs with respect, stressing that no voter should face intimidation, harassment or discrimination because of a disability.
The REC also said the commission would continue to consult disability groups to identify challenges and develop practical measures to improve their participation, noting that electoral inclusion must be reflected in the conduct of the elections.
Similarly, the Director of Gender and Inclusivity at INEC headquarters, Mrs. Dorothy Lakunuya Bello, represented by Mojisola Awelewa, said the commission had introduced measures to help voters with different disabilities cast their ballots. She added that priority voting was available to PWDs, elderly people, pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Bello listed the assistive materials provided by INEC to include Braille ballot guides for visually impaired voters, magnifying glasses for persons with albinism and pictorial posters for voters with hearing impairments.
The Ondo State Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Abiodun Samuel, commended INEC for its preparations, particularly the provision of assistive materials. He urged the commission to sustain its efforts and ensure that persons with disabilities could vote freely and without fear during the 2027 elections.
