Stakeholders call for zero tolerance for voter intimidation, accessible polling units, improved coordination and stronger protection for persons with disabilities
ABUJA — The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the European Union (EU) have called for stronger disability-inclusive security protocols to protect persons with disabilities against intimidation, harassment and discrimination during Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The call was made at a high-level technical engagement on disability-inclusive electoral security organised by TAF Africa, led by Ambassador Jake Epelle, in Abuja on Thursday.
The engagement brought together electoral authorities, security agencies, disability rights advocates and development partners to address persistent barriers confronting persons with disabilities in the electoral process and strengthen measures to guarantee their safety, dignity and participation.
The meeting followed concerns raised by disability rights advocates over alleged incidents of harassment, intimidation and threats involving security personnel during previous elections, highlighting the urgent need for more inclusive and accountable electoral security arrangements.
NSCDC Pledges Zero Tolerance for Voter Intimidation
The Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to protecting voters with disabilities, declaring that intimidation and discrimination against them would not be tolerated.
Audi said the corps would strengthen its operational capacity, review its training curriculum and equip officers with the knowledge and skills required to respond appropriately to the needs of persons with different disabilities.
He stressed that protecting persons with disabilities during elections was not an act of charity but a responsibility grounded in human dignity, fundamental rights and equal participation in democratic governance.
The NSCDC chief identified three priority areas for strengthening electoral security: zero tolerance for intimidation, accessible security arrangements and improved rapid-response mechanisms.
On voter protection, he said the corps would deploy appropriate personnel and intelligence measures to prevent political harassment and the deliberate targeting of persons with disabilities.
“No vulnerable citizen shall be intimidated at or exercising her franchise,” Audi declared.
He also said security personnel would facilitate access to polling units and provide appropriate assistance to voters with visual, hearing and mobility impairments.
According to him, such assistance must be delivered with patience, professionalism and respect for the independence and dignity of every voter.
Audi further pledged to strengthen real-time reporting, referral and coordination mechanisms between the NSCDC and other security agencies to ensure that complaints of intimidation and electoral violations received prompt attention.
He directed officers and men of the corps to treat every voter with dignity and impartiality, provide priority assistance where necessary and maintain zero tolerance for obstruction and intimidation.
“Our uniform represents the totality of the state. That authority must be exercised with restraint, fairness and, of course, accountability,” he said.
INEC: Credible Elections Must Be Accessible to All
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the credibility of elections depended not only on the conduct of voting but also on whether every eligible citizen could participate freely, safely and without discrimination.
Represented by INEC National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu, Amupitan said an electoral process could not be considered genuinely inclusive if persons with disabilities and other vulnerable citizens were exposed to intimidation, insecurity or barriers that prevented them from exercising their voting rights.
He noted that the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 and Nigeria’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provided a legal framework for protecting the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
The INEC chairman said the commission had continued to promote electoral inclusion through voter education, priority access and appropriate assistive measures.
However, he warned that these efforts could only succeed in an electoral environment that was secure, accessible and responsive to the needs of voters.
Amupitan explained that voters with hearing impairments might require clear visual communication, those with visual impairments might need verbal directions, while persons with limited mobility required unobstructed access to polling areas.
He stressed that security personnel must understand these differences and provide appropriate assistance without compromising voters’ independence, privacy or freedom of choice.
Five Priorities for Disability-Inclusive Electoral Security
Amupitan outlined five priority areas for strengthening inclusive electoral security ahead of the 2027 general elections.
They include:
- Clear security protocols: Develop disability-inclusive operational guidelines for security personnel during elections.
- Targeted training: Equip security officers with knowledge of disability rights, accessible communication and appropriate support for voters with different disabilities.
- Inter-agency coordination: Strengthen collaboration among INEC, the NSCDC, the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security institutions.
- Accessible reporting channels: Establish mechanisms through which persons with disabilities can report intimidation, harassment and electoral violations and receive timely responses.
- Sustained engagement: Maintain regular consultations with organisations of persons with disabilities to ensure their concerns inform electoral security planning and implementation.
The INEC chairman urged stakeholders to translate their commitments into measurable actions, with clearly assigned institutional responsibilities and mechanisms for monitoring implementation before the elections.
He said preparations should begin well before polling day, with risk assessments identifying inaccessible entry points, congested approaches to polling units, potential security flashpoints and communication barriers.
Amupitan also emphasised that assistance provided to voters with disabilities must not compromise ballot secrecy, personal autonomy or freedom of choice.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to working with security agencies, TAF Africa, disability rights organisations and development partners throughout the electoral cycle, including voter registration, political campaigns, polling, collation and the post-election period.
EU Ambassador Calls for Stronger Security Cooperation
The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, called for stronger cooperation among electoral authorities, security institutions, civil society organisations, disability rights groups and development partners to improve electoral security.
Mignot said protecting persons with disabilities during elections was an essential expression of equal rights, human dignity and the rule of law, rather than a special privilege.
He urged the NSCDC to integrate disability inclusion into security planning, personnel training, operational briefings, coordination mechanisms and emergency-response procedures.
According to the ambassador, preparations for the 2027 general elections provide an opportunity to strengthen inclusive electoral security before major election operations begin.
He emphasised that sustainable progress would require continuous institutional commitment, technical cooperation and the implementation of recommendations beyond the meeting.
Mignot also underscored the importance of coordination between the NSCDC and the Nigeria Police Force, noting that their distinct but complementary responsibilities required effective information-sharing, preparedness and incident response.
He said security arrangements must cover the entire electoral cycle, from voter registration and political campaigns to rallies, party activities, polling and voting.
Disability Advocates Raise Concerns Over Voter Data
Meanwhile, disability rights advocates called for improved voter data, stronger engagement with political parties and better protection for persons with disabilities participating in elections as voters and accredited observers.
Mike Gideon, who represented the National Chairman of the Association of Persons with Disabilities, Abdullahi Usman, commended TAF Africa for convening the engagement but stressed that more needed to be done to ensure the specific needs of voters with disabilities were properly documented and addressed.
Gideon disclosed that some persons with disabilities were not correctly identified in INEC’s voter records, raising concerns about the ability of electoral authorities and security agencies to plan appropriate assistance.
He said accurate and disability-disaggregated voter data was essential for identifying accessibility needs, deploying appropriate personnel and ensuring that voters with disabilities were not overlooked during election preparations.
The advocates also called for closer engagement with political parties to ensure that persons with disabilities were protected during campaigns, rallies and other political activities.
Stakeholders Urged to Turn Commitments Into Action
The engagement underscored the need for a coordinated approach to electoral security that places the rights, safety and dignity of persons with disabilities at the centre of election planning.
Stakeholders stressed that inclusive elections required more than accessible polling units and voter education. They also demanded security personnel who understood disability rights, effective complaint mechanisms, timely responses to incidents and accountability for violations.
With preparations for the 2027 general elections underway, participants called for clear implementation timelines, institutional accountability and sustained engagement with the disability community.
The central message from the meeting was that persons with disabilities must not only be able to vote but must also be protected from intimidation, discrimination and exclusion throughout the electoral process.
For disability rights advocates, the test of Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive democracy will be whether persons with disabilities can participate in the 2027 elections safely, independently and with dignity — without fear, barriers or discrimination.
