Ayomide Awe
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, has urged the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen security measures to protect persons with disabilities from intimidation, violence and discrimination during the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan warned that inaccessible polling units, inadequate security arrangements and discriminatory treatment could prevent eligible Nigerians with disabilities from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
He stressed that the credibility of the elections would depend not only on the conduct of the polls but also on the ability of every eligible voter to participate freely, safely and without discrimination.
The INEC chairman spoke on Friday in Abuja at an engagement organised by TAF Africa for officers of the Nigeria Police Force on disability-inclusive election security.
He said persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups must not be exposed to intimidation, insecurity or unnecessary barriers throughout the electoral process.
“An election cannot be considered inclusive if persons with disabilities or other vulnerability groups face intimidation, insecurity, or other barriers to exercising their rights,” Amupitan said.
He called for prompt security responses to incidents involving voters with disabilities, stressing the need for police officers to understand the different needs of persons with physical, hearing and visual impairments.
According to him, officers should be adequately trained to communicate effectively with voters with different disabilities, including the use of visual communication for people with hearing impairments and verbal guidance for those with visual impairments.
Amupitan emphasised that security arrangements must cover every stage of the electoral process, from voter registration and political campaigns to rallies, election-day voting and the post-election period.
He noted that INEC’s electoral regulations provide for priority access, appropriate assistance and assistive voting materials for persons with disabilities.
However, he cautioned security personnel against allowing such assistance to undermine voters’ privacy, independence or freedom of choice.
“Every eligible citizen has a right to vote. That right must be accessible to every Nigerian citizen, regardless of disability or displacement,” he said.
The INEC chairman also urged police officers to remain professional, impartial and vigilant in protecting voters and preventing electoral violence, particularly as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.
Similarly, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, called on the police to incorporate disability-inclusive guidelines into their election security operations.
Mignot said officers must be trained to protect voters with disabilities against intimidation, violence and discriminatory treatment during campaigns and other electoral activities.
He identified inaccessible electoral information, unsafe polling environments and inadequate security responses as some of the barriers that continue to limit the participation of persons with disabilities in Nigeria’s democratic process.
The EU envoy stressed that preparations for the 2027 elections should go beyond general security planning to include specific measures addressing the needs and protection of voters with disabilities.
“Preparation for the 2027 general election should ensure that disability inclusion is reflected in relevant security plans, personnel training, operational briefings and emergency response arrangements,” Mignot said.
The calls come as preparations for the 2027 general elections place renewed emphasis on electoral security, voter participation and the protection of citizens’ democratic rights.
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