Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to grant them a special one-week extension to register as voters ahead of the 2027 general elections. This call was made by the National Coordinator, PWDs, National Prayer Support Group for Good Governance, Emmanuel Aduku, following the release of the latest voter register figures by INEC. The group expressed concern over the low number of PWDs registered to vote.
According to INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, the commission recorded 232,658 PWDs across 10 categories, representing about 0.23 per cent of the total voter register. This number was considered a cause for concern by the PWDs group, who urged INEC to take additional steps to improve the participation of PWDs in the electoral process. The group also appealed to INEC to approve a one-week special extension of voter registration exclusively for PWDs.
The PWDs group recommended that INEC consider special measures during the proposed extension, including priority access and mobility support at registration centres, registration outreach to schools for the deaf, blind and other special clusters, as well as door-to-door mobilisation and registration support through credible databases and coordinated meeting centres. The group emphasized that PWDs need equal opportunities and the full exercise of their constitutional rights to participate in choosing their leaders.
The National Prayer Support Group for Good Governance, PWDs chapter, expressed its disappointment over the low number of PWDs registered to vote, stating that it is statistically and morally unacceptable. With an estimated 30-35 million PWDs in Nigeria, the group noted that less than one per cent of PWDs have been captured in the voter register. The group also acknowledged that PWD leadership and advocacy groups have a responsibility to mobilise their members.
The group urged organisations representing PWDs to intensify mobilisation, noting that the NPSGGG has more than 1,700 registered PWD members. They recommended that political support groups and organisations nationwide should collectively be able to mobilise significantly more PWDs to participate in the electoral process. The statement also emphasized that democracy rewards participation, not indifference.
INEC released a breakdown of registered voters by state, with Lagos topping the list with 7,488,633 registered voters, followed by Kano with 6,570,276 and Kaduna with 4,662,640. The voter register also showed that male voters numbered 53,528,218, representing 51.75 per cent, while female voters accounted for 49,900,497, or 48.25 per cent. Voters aged between 35 and 49 constituted the largest age group.
The INEC voter register will be displayed for public scrutiny from October 9 to 15, 2026, in line with Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026. The PWDs group is seeking equal rights, not charity, and an end to the marginalization of PWDs in the democratic process.
Key points
- PWDs in Nigeria are seeking a one-week extension to register as voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
