The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reaffirmed its commitment to enabling eligible inmates to vote in Nigerian elections, in line with a series of court judgments upholding their rights.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Friday when he met with the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Yakubu said the right to vote is a fundamental human right that should not be denied solely because a person is serving time in a correctional facility, noting that several countries — including Ghana, Kenya and South Africa — already allow inmates to participate in elections.
He referred to a 2019 Court of Appeal ruling that recognised the right of inmates, especially those awaiting trial, to register and vote. However, he stressed the need for a clear legal framework to guide the process, calling on the National Assembly to clarify provisions in the Electoral Act 2022 that could affect inmate voting eligibility.
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“Our immediate task is to engage with the National Assembly for a clear legal provision on inmate voting. Thereafter, we can address the specific issues that may arise in the course of implementation,” he said.
The INEC chairman listed key operational concerns, including access for voter registration, creation of polling units inside correctional facilities, political campaigns, observer monitoring, and media coverage. He said political parties also need to know whether they can campaign in prisons and appoint polling agents for election day.
In his remarks, Nwakuche urged INEC to extend voting rights to inmates, revealing that more than 81,000 inmates are currently in custody nationwide, with about 66 percent awaiting trial. He also cited a recent court ruling that reaffirmed their constitutional right to vote.
While the Court of Appeal upheld inmates’ voting rights in 2019, it stopped short of ordering INEC to set up registration centres in correctional facilities. Yakubu assured that the Commission will work within the law to enfranchise as many eligible inmates as possible.
