The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Ondo State of an inclusive, accessible and harassment-free electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, gave the assurance during a sensitisation workshop on disability interventions and engagement with PWDs, electoral officers and disability desk officers.
Agboke said the commission was committed to ensuring that no eligible voter was denied the opportunity to participate in the electoral process because of a disability.
He explained that the engagement was organised to reassure PWDs of their place in the electoral system and address challenges, including harassment and intimidation, which had discouraged some from participating in previous elections.
The REC urged participants not to allow negative experiences to deter them from exercising their civic rights, advising them to report any form of discrimination or mistreatment to INEC for appropriate action.
He stressed that electoral inclusivity must go beyond voting to include convenient access to Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), adding that practical measures would be put in place to ensure that PWDs could participate without unnecessary barriers.
Agboke also assured them that INEC officials would treat them with respect on election day, while security agencies would be expected to protect them against discrimination, harassment and intimidation.
Also speaking, the Director of the Gender and Inclusivity Department, Mrs. Dorothy Bello, represented by Mrs. Mojisola Awelewa, said INEC had provided assistive materials to address the needs of voters with different forms of disabilities.
She identified three major categories of assistive materials for voters with visual impairments, hearing impairments and albinism.
According to her, magnifying glasses have been provided for persons with albinism to enlarge ballot paper texts and make reading easier.
She said the IFE 33 PWD instruction poster was designed to guide voters with hearing impairments through the voting process using step-by-step pictorial illustrations, from the beginning to the completion of voting.
Bello added that Braille Ballot Guides were available for visually impaired voters who could read Braille, enabling them to identify their preferred candidates and cast their votes independently.
She further explained that INEC had made provision for priority voting for older persons, pregnant women, nursing mothers and sick voters who might find it difficult to stand in queues for extended periods.
Bello said the measures reflected the commission’s commitment to ensuring that every eligible voter could participate in the 2027 general elections without discrimination.
Earlier, the Ondo State Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Olusegun Abiodun, commended INEC for its efforts to promote accessible and inclusive voting.
Abiodun described the sensitisation workshop as an important opportunity for PWDs to understand their electoral rights and familiarise themselves with the facilities available to support their participation.
He said participants were briefed on the available assistive materials and given the opportunity to practise how to use them.
The JONAPWD chairman urged persons with disabilities not to succumb to intimidation during elections but to insist on their right to priority voting.
He also expressed satisfaction with INEC’s assurance that ballot boxes would be positioned at accessible levels rather than on high tables or across gutters and other obstacles that could make voting difficult for persons with physical disabilities.
Abiodun said the measure would enable PWDs to cast their ballots with greater ease and dignity, describing the provisions as positive steps towards ensuring their full participation in the 2027 general elections.
