The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has launched a national training programme aimed at making voter education more inclusive ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The two-day National Inclusive Voter Education Training is designed to equip INEC’s Gender and Inclusivity personnel with practical skills for reaching citizens with different needs and ensuring they can access and understand important electoral information.
The programme, being held at the Exclusive Serene Hotel in Wuye, Abuja, is supported by the Government of Canada through its Fund for Local Initiatives and organised in partnership with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
Staff from INEC’s Gender and Inclusivity Department across the states, alongside other relevant personnel, are participating in the training.
The commission said the initiative is part of its wider efforts to promote a free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.
INEC has also recently engaged the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and other stakeholders as part of efforts to improve the participation of persons with disabilities in the electoral process.
Canada Backs Inclusive Elections
Speaking at the training, First Secretary, Political Affairs at the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria, Colton Bridges, said Canada considers inclusive elections and democratic processes important to democratic development.
Bridges said the initiative was funded through Canada’s Fund for Local Initiatives and forms part of several election-related projects being supported by the Canadian government as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
He said the focus on inclusion reflects Canada’s position that democratic and electoral processes should be accessible to all citizens.
“I hope for the next two days, what you’re going to take away from it is maybe how to do it a little bit better, how to do it differently, some strategies you can use to ensure that your education is inclusive,” he said.
Bridges, who has participated in election observation missions in Ondo, Anambra and Osun states, said those experiences had allowed him to see some of INEC’s efforts to promote inclusive elections, particularly for persons with disabilities.
However, he stressed that inclusion should go beyond disability.
Other Voters Also Need Special Attention
According to Bridges, voter education must also take into account citizens who may face other barriers to accessing electoral information.
He identified people who do not speak English fluently, those with limited literacy, residents of remote communities and citizens without internet access as groups that may require different approaches.
“People who need specific types of information or specific types of messaging” must be reached so they can participate fully in the electoral process, he said.
On persons with disabilities, Bridges acknowledged that some of the challenges they face, including access to education and employment, extend beyond INEC’s mandate.
He said the commission nevertheless has the responsibility and capacity to make the electoral process itself accessible, allowing persons with disabilities to vote and exercise their franchise.
The training is expected to strengthen the ability of INEC personnel to design and deliver voter education that responds to the different circumstances of eligible citizens ahead of the 2027 elections.
