The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has called for stronger collaboration between the commission, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to protect voters with disabilities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan made the call on Friday, October 23, 2026, during a stakeholder engagement in Abuja, stressing that every eligible Nigerian must be able to exercise their voting rights safely, freely, and without discrimination.
He warned that intimidation, insecurity, and inaccessible polling facilities could prevent persons with disabilities from participating fully in the electoral process.
The INEC chairman urged security agencies to incorporate disability inclusion into election planning, personnel training and emergency response measures to ensure that voters with disabilities are adequately protected.
He also called for accessible complaint channels, joint security assessments and improved coordination among electoral stakeholders before, during and after elections.
Amupitan stressed that electoral inclusion is a democratic right, not charity, urging participants to turn their discussions into practical measures that safeguard voters and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.