INEC to Reform Disability Inclusion Policies Ahead of 2027 Polls

By: Julian Osamoto

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is under mounting pressure from stakeholders to overhaul its framework for the participation of Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The call comes in the wake of a stakeholder meeting in Abuja, where findings from the 2024 Political Inclusion Index were presented. The Index, developed by TAF Africa in collaboration with the European Union, assessed how well electoral actors are complying with laws meant to ensure political inclusion for persons with disabilities.

Presenting the report, consultant Omojo Adaji noted that INEC’s current disability inclusion framework launched in 2018, has served during two election cycles and is now outdated. She stressed the urgency of revising it to reflect international best practices, technological progress, and the evolving needs of PWDs.

Adaji said the review would enhance accessibility and bring Nigeria closer to fulfilling its legal and human rights obligations.

The report also recommended that political parties introduce disability quotas to ensure meaningful representation of PWDs in decision-making positions. It further urged the media to adopt inclusive content practices, such as closed captions, sign language interpretation, and audio descriptions.

On security, the report called for routine training for personnel on disability rights, especially given the frequent turnover ahead of elections.

Zissimos Vergos, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, described the Political Inclusion Index as a valuable tool for advancing social justice.

He commended the achievements of PWDs in various sectors, calling it “the highest form of social justice,” and expressed hope that the report would receive attention at the highest political levels.

Founder of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, said the index was designed to empower persons with disabilities to participate meaningfully in party politics and leadership. He warned that parties that exclude this demographic risk being voted out.

“If political parties are not internally democratic and inclusive, they cannot be nationally effective,” he said.

The session brought together INEC officials, representatives from political parties, civil society organisations, the National Commission for PWDs, and disability rights advocates, all united in the call for a more inclusive democratic process.