The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to removing barriers preventing Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) from participating fully in the 2027 general elections in Lagos State.
Prof. Ayobami Salami, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Lagos State, said this at a sensitisation programme involving PWDs, Electoral Officers (EOs) and Disability Desk Officers, on Monday in Lagos.
Salami, whose address was read by the Administrative Secretary, Mrs Oluyemi Adeyemi-Showunmi, urged electoral officers to ensure independent voting for PWDs, stressing that inclusion required more than physical access to polling units.
“Electoral inclusion goes beyond allowing persons with disabilities to enter a polling unit.
“It requires us to identify and remove barriers preventing them from registering, accessing electoral information and exercising their voting rights independently, safely and with dignity,” he said.
He said INEC would continually assess its procedures, facilities, communication methods and operational arrangements to ensure eligible voters were not disadvantaged by disability.
Salami described the programme as an opportunity to strengthen accessibility, promote effective use of assistive devices and enhance collaboration between INEC and the disability community.
He commended the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Lagos State, for participating in decisions affecting PWDs’ involvement in the democratic process.
The REC said INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, had reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to inclusive elections at a world press conference and national stakeholders’ meeting on Oct. 6, marking 100 days to the 2027 general elections.
He said the commission had announced targeted interventions to improve electoral access for women, young people and PWDs, including Braille ballot guides across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside Braille-transcribed voter education materials.
According to him,other measures include EC30 PWD posters for deaf voters, magnifying glasses for visually impaired persons and persons with albinism, and certified sign language interpreters at all state collation centres.
Salami urged INEC personnel to understand these interventions, communicate their purposes effectively and ensure the appropriate deployment of devices to assist their intended users.
He stressed that disability inclusion required coordinated action across administrative, electoral operations, voter education, logistics and other relevant departments.
Salami added that every officer interacting with voters had a responsibility to provide respectful, non-discriminatory assistance.
He urged the National Register of Voters contained 232,658 registered voters with disabilities across 10 categories, according to information presented by the commission’s chairman.
The categories include persons with albinism, physical impairments, visual impairments, deafness, autism, cognitive or learning disabilities, little stature, Down syndrome, spinal cord injuries and other disability categories.
He said the figures highlighted the need for electoral personnel to understand the different requirements of PWDs rather than adopt a uniform approach to assistance.
According to Salami, visually impaired voters might require Braille ballot guides, while deaf voters could benefit from accessible written information or sign language interpretation.
He added that voters with low vision or albinism might need visual support, while those with mobility impairments could encounter physical barriers at electoral facilities.
The REC urged Electoral Officers and Disability Desk Officers to familiarise themselves with voters’ needs, understand available assistive devices and ask PWDs about their preferred assistance rather than make assumptions about their abilities.
He warned that providing assistive devices alone would not guarantee accessibility unless electoral personnel understood their use, ensured proper handling and made them available and functional.
Salami also urged officers to identify and report accessibility barriers, collaborate with relevant departments and consider voter education materials, clarity of instructions, physical facilities and personnel conduct.
He called for a people-centred approach that incorporated PWDs’ experiences and feedback, adding that collaboration among INEC, the National Orientation Agency, JONAPWD, civil society organisations and community structures would improve awareness and access to voter education.
Mrs Mojisola Awelewa, a Desk Officer in INEC’s Disability Unit, presented an overview of the commission’s disability inclusion policy .
She said the workshop offered practical demonstrations, hands-on learning and an opportunity to identify operational gaps ahead of the elections.
“An inclusive electoral process does more than raise turnout among Persons with Disabilities, it strengthens the credibility and legitimacy of the election as a whole,” she said.
In his goodwill message, Mr Lukman Salami, State Chairman of JONAPWD, commended INEC’s efforts, and urged the commission to put action to words, while also calling for a more universal approach to disability inclusion.
“We have equal right to express our political opinion. For this right to be meaningful, the election process must be accessible and inclusive for PWDs,” he said.
Mr Muyiwa Yusuff, INEC Head of Department, Voter Registration/ICT, while responding to concerns raised by PWDs, said the commission had done much and continued working to address concerns about universal inclusivity.(NAN)
