3,000 Persons with Disabilities Registered to Vote in FCT — INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission has disclosed that a total of 3,000 voters with disabilities have been registered in the Federal Capital Territory in preparation for the forthcoming Area Council elections.
The disclosure was made by the Head of INEC’s Information and Communication Technology Department in the FCT, Mr. Festus Aisien, during an advocacy visit by the Inclusive Friends Association to the Commission’s FCT office in Abuja.
Aisien, in a statement posted on INEC’s verified X account on Friday, said the registration figure reflected the electoral body’s ongoing efforts to promote inclusive participation in the electoral process, particularly for Persons with Disabilities.
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The revelation comes as INEC intensifies preparations for the Area Council elections in the FCT, with increased focus on ensuring that vulnerable groups, including PWDs, are not excluded from the democratic process.
During the visit, the Chief Executive Officer of the Inclusive Friends Association, Mrs. Grace Jerry, commended INEC for over a decade of productive engagement and sustained collaboration in advancing disability-inclusive electoral practices.
Jerry, however, called for intensified training for election personnel, security agencies, and political party agents on disability-related issues ahead of the FCT Area Council elections, stressing that improved capacity-building would enhance sensitivity and responsiveness during the conduct of elections.
“Such training would strengthen the implementation of inclusion measures, including priority voting for PWDs and the deployment of assistive materials such as Braille Ballot Guides,” she stated.
The IFA chief executive also pledged the support of the Association in providing technical expertise, particularly in the training of ad-hoc staff on disability inclusion and other electoral processes aimed at improving access and participation for PWDs.
In his response, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the FCT, Malam Aminu Kasimu Idris, assured the delegation that issues concerning PWDs would continue to receive priority attention in the planning and conduct of elections in the territory.
The assurance reinforces INEC’s public commitment to ensuring that electoral processes accommodate the needs of all citizens, regardless of physical challenges or disabilities.
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The push for disability-inclusive elections in Nigeria has gained momentum over the past two decades, driven largely by advocacy groups and civil society organizations working to ensure that PWDs are not marginalized in the democratic process.
Prior to recent reforms, persons with disabilities faced significant barriers to electoral participation, including inaccessible polling units, lack of assistive voting materials, and inadequate training for election officials on how to assist voters with special needs.
The Electoral Act 2022, which currently governs elections in Nigeria, contains provisions aimed at promoting inclusivity, including clauses that mandate INEC to provide accessible voting environments and assistive materials for PWDs. Section 54 of the Act specifically addresses the rights of PWDs to access polling units and receive appropriate assistance during voting.
INEC has, in recent years, introduced several measures to enhance participation by PWDs, including the deployment of Braille Ballot Guides for visually impaired voters, priority queues at polling units, and the training of election officials on disability etiquette and support protocols.
The Inclusive Friends Association has been at the forefront of these advocacy efforts, working closely with INEC and other stakeholders to ensure that electoral processes are designed with disability considerations in mind. The organization has conducted numerous capacity-building programs for election officials and political actors across the country.
The FCT Area Council elections, which are conducted periodically to elect chairmen and councilors for the six area councils in the federal capital, represent an important exercise in grassroots democracy within the territory.