INEC Captures 137,487 PWDs for Inclusive 2027 Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has captured 137,487 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in its voter database in preparation for the 2027 general elections. This announcement was made during a National Strategy Engagement in Abuja with the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) and other organizations.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, represented by Acting Chairman Prof. Rhoda Gumus, stated that this initiative underscores the Commission's commitment to an inclusive electoral process. The data includes various categories of disabilities, such as 13,080 visually impaired and 9,299 hearing impaired individuals.

The meeting aimed to mobilize PWDs for increased electoral participation, with strategies to be implemented at the state level. Key objectives included enhancing voter education and turnout among PWDs.

Grace Jerry, Executive Director of Inclusive Friends Association, advocated for improved voter education and support for PWDs, while JONAPWD President Abdullahi Aliyu Usman called for more frequent engagements leading up to the elections.