PWDs seek one-week extension for voter registration

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant them a one-week special extension to register as voters ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections. Emmanuel Aduku, National Coordinator of the PWDs National Prayer Support Group for Good Governance, made the call in a statement following INEC's release of the latest voter register figures.

According to INEC, 232,658 PWDs from 10 categories constitute about 0.23 percent of the total 103,428,715 registered voters. The PWD group emphasized that this figure is statistically and morally unacceptable, given the estimated 30-35 million PWDs in Nigeria. They appealed to INEC to approve a special voter registration extension for PWDs, with accessibility and support measures, such as priority access, mobility support, outreach to schools for the deaf and blind, and door-to-door mobilization.

The group acknowledged the responsibility of PWD leadership and advocacy groups, but emphasized that government institutions must ensure PWDs are not left behind in the democratic process.