(INEC Officials. Photo by Daily Post)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed the right of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) to participate fully in elections, citing Section 54 of the Electoral Act, as the country gears up for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026.
Speaking at an engagement meeting with PWDs and Electoral Officers in Osogbo, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, described the gathering as a meaningful step toward making the electoral process more inclusive and accessible.
She emphasized that PWDs have an equal right to vote freely and with dignity, free from fear, intimidation, or discrimination, and stressed that their participation is vital to Nigerian democracy.
Babalola noted that INEC has taken concrete steps to back this commitment, including launching a Framework on Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in the Electoral Process and creating a Department of Gender and Inclusivity.
The commission has also engaged political parties on establishing PWD desk offices, with many parties now integrating disability-related functions into their National Working Committees.
On practical measures, she explained that Section 54 of the Electoral Act provides for assistive devices including Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses, and visual aids for deaf voters developed in consultation with disability groups to safeguard voter independence and confidentiality.
Participants were encouraged to familiarize themselves with these tools and share the knowledge within their communities ahead of the poll.
Representatives from the National Orientation Agency and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities also spoke at the event, both underlining that democracy is only genuinely meaningful when it is inclusive, and calling on stakeholders to ensure every eligible Nigerian’s vote counts.
