Police Must Protect PWDs from Intimidation in 2027 Elections, says Amupitan

Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says stronger security measures are needed to protect persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the 2027 general election.

Speaking on Friday at an engagement organised by TAF Africa for the officers of the Nigeria Police Force  (NPF) in Abuja, the INEC chairman said intimidation and inaccessible polling units could prevent eligible Nigerians from exercising their voting rights.

Amupitan said election credibility depend on whether every eligible citizen can vote freely, safely and without discrimination.

“An election cannot be considered inclusive if persons with disabilities or other vulnerability groups face intimidation, insecurity, or other barriers to exercising their rights,” he said.

Amupitan said there should be prompt responses to security incidents involving persons with disabilities.

He said officers should be trained to recognise different disabilities and respond appropriately, noting that voters with hearing impairments might require visual communication, while those with visual impairments might need verbal guidance.

Amupitan said security arrangements should cover the entire electoral process, including voter registration, political campaigns, rallies, polling and the post-election period.

The INEC’s chairman said the commission’s electoral regulations provide for priority access, appropriate assistance and assistive voting materials for persons with disabilities.

He urged security personnel to ensure that assistance does not compromise voters’ privacy, independence or freedom of choice.

“Every eligible citizen has a right to vote. That right must be accessible to every Nigerian citizen, regardless of disability or displacement,” he said.

He asked the police to maintain professionalism and impartiality while protecting voters and preventing electoral violence.

On his part, Gautier Mignot, head of the European Union delegation to Nigeria, said the police should integrate disability-inclusive guidelines into its election security operations ahead of the 2027 general election.

Mignot said police officers should be trained to protect voters with disabilities from intimidation, violence and discriminatory treatment during electoral activities.

He said persons with disabilities continue to face barriers that could prevent them from fully exercising their political rights, which include inaccessible information, unsafe polling environments and inadequate security responses.

“Preparation for the 2027 general election should ensure that disability inclusion is reflected in relevant security plans, personnel training, operational briefings and emergency response arrangements,” the ambassador said.