The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Oyo State has trained Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) on electoral participation and inclusive interventions ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
The training, held at the State Collation Centre in Ibadan, aimed to improve electoral awareness among persons with disabilities, strengthen their understanding of voting procedures and address barriers that could limit their participation in the electoral process.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Oyo State, Adeniran Tella, represented by Mrs. Agnes Oluwatomisin, disclosed that the Commission remained committed to ensuring that eligible citizens with disabilities could exercise their civic rights without avoidable obstacles.
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He said electoral inclusion goes beyond allowing persons with disabilities to register and vote, stressing the need to provide accessible electoral information, facilitate access to polling units and encourage their participation in voter education, election observation and other lawful electoral activities.
Tella revealed that INEC would provide assistive devices, including magnifying glasses, Braille ballot guides, and written instruction posters for voters with hearing impairments, to improve their voting experience.
He noted that persons with disabilities, alongside elderly people, pregnant women and nursing mothers, are entitled to priority consideration at polling units, in line with the commission’s guidelines.
The REC said INEC would continue to engage qualified persons with disabilities as adhoc election personnel, noting that such measures would promote a more inclusive electoral process.
He identified inaccessible polling units, communication barriers, transportation difficulties, inadequate electoral information in accessible formats, and negative societal attitudes as some of the challenges requiring collective action.
Tella stated that the Commission is distributing the first batch of 77,015 newly printed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across 351 registration areas in the state.
He revealed that the distribution exercise which began on October 9 would end on October 15, before continuing at the local government level from October 16.
The Deputy Director of INEC’s Gender and Inclusivity Department, Mrs. Habiba Jatto, said the workshop was designed to strengthen stakeholders’ understanding of disability inclusion, accessibility and the effective deployment of the Commission’s interventions.
She noted that the participation of persons with disabilities as voters, candidates and election personnel was central to an inclusive democracy, saying the Commission’s efforts are guided by relevant electoral and disability inclusion frameworks.
Jatto listed the workshop’s objectives to include improving accessible voter education, strengthening collaboration with disability organisations, building capacity for the effective use of assistive devices, and identifying gaps from previous elections ahead of the 2027 polls.
She emphasised that providing assistive materials alone was insufficient without proper deployment, coordination, monitoring, and awareness among the intended beneficiaries.
In her goodwill message, the Head of the Civic Values and Democratic Department of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs. Simbiat Akande, called for effective disability inclusion and accessibility in Nigeria’s electoral process.
She said the workshop aimed to raise awareness of the electoral rights of persons with disabilities and address physical, communication and procedural barriers limiting their participation as voters and candidates.
Akande stressed the need for accessible electoral facilities, effective interventions and sustained public education to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and promote their full participation in the democratic process.
Also, the Oyo State Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Mr. Abiodun Kolawole, commended INEC for organising the training, but appealed for stronger collaboration between the commission and the disability community.
He called for fair consideration of persons with disabilities for election observer and adhoc staff positions during the 2027 General Elections, in accordance with INEC’s recruitment guidelines.
Kolawole urged the commission to ensure that polling units were accessible and that voters with disabilities could participate in elections safely, freely and independently.
