Stakeholders in Nigeria’s electoral process have raised concerns over the exclusion of persons with disabilities, revealing that over 85 per cent of polling units across the country remain inaccessible.
The disclosure was made during a strategic dialogue convened by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
Participants at the meeting also noted that only about 29 per cent of registered voters with disabilities participated in the last Federal Capital Territory election, raising concerns about systemic barriers to political inclusion.
The stakeholders called for urgent measures to improve voter education, ensure accessibility of polling units, and strengthen the capacity of electoral officials to support voters with disabilities.
They stressed that the current situation undermines democratic principles, noting that elections that exclude persons with disabilities cannot be considered free, fair, or inclusive.
In its response, INEC highlighted steps taken to improve accessibility, including the introduction of Braille ballot guides, magnifying lenses, and efforts to enhance disability data capture.
Despite these interventions, participants maintained that significant gaps remain and called for sustained action to guarantee full participation of persons with disabilities in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The development was shared on the official Facebook page of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities.