The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kwara State has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering free and inclusive elections in the 2027 general elections.
Ahmed Yushau Garki, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the State, gave the assurance over the weekend at a sensitisation programme on disability interventions involving Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), electoral officers (EOs) and disability desk officers in Ilorin.
Garki said the Commission is equipping its personnel with the necessary skills and providing the required facilities to ensure that all eligible voters, regardless of their physical challenges, could participate fully in the electoral process.
He explained that the intervention was designed to address longstanding barriers confronting persons with disabilities during elections, including difficulties associated with mobility, visual impairment, literacy and access to electoral information.
“We are ready to deploy the necessary tools and skills to ensure that all eligible voters can participate in the forthcoming elections. Ahead of the 2027 general elections, INEC is introducing this intervention to ensure that the challenges people face during elections become a thing of the past,” he said.
The REC noted that the initiative was aimed at promoting inclusivity and accessibility, particularly for wheelchair users and visually impaired persons.
According to him, INEC is making special provisions to ensure that polling units are accessible to eligible voters with disabilities and that electoral officers can provide appropriate assistance to those who require it.
He added that the workshop equips electoral officers with the knowledge and practical skills needed to address technical and operational challenges that could hinder the participation of persons with disabilities.
Garki also disclosed that the Commission is providing assistive materials, including magnifying glasses and other voting aids, to enable voters with specific needs to exercise their franchise with greater independence.
On the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), he said the cards are available for collection at INEC offices across the State’s 16 local government areas.
Speaking on the responsibilities of electoral officers at the grassroots, Ivase Stephen, Chairman of the Electoral Officers Forum, discussed the expectations and deliverables required to improve electoral participation among persons with disabilities.
He highlighted the need to address barriers to participation, stressing the importance of accessibility, inclusion, representation and adequate support for PWDs throughout the electoral process.
Similarly, Sheye Adeogun, Head of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department of INEC in the State, examined technological innovations and the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in strengthening the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
Adeogun explained that BVAS remains a major technological innovation designed to verify voters electronically, adding that the effectiveness of electoral technology depended on reliable equipment, competent personnel, effective procedures and public trust.
He said INEC had intensified voter education through the media, engagement with civil society organisations and other public enlightenment initiatives to improve citizens’ understanding of BVAS and the role of the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in promoting transparency.
According to him, the credibility of the 2027 general elections would depend not merely on the availability of advanced technology but also on the commission’s ability to deploy it reliably, transparently and in accordance with the law.
“As we prepare for 2027, our focus must move beyond acquiring technology to ensuring that every device works, every official understands the procedures, every result is properly documented and every eligible voter can participate in the process,” he said.
A visually-impaired participant, Abdulkareem Lawal, commended INEC for the initiative, expressing optimism that the interventions would enable persons with disabilities to vote more independently.
He described the measures as a step towards making future elections more accessible and seamless for voters with disabilities.
