In a major push towards electoral inclusivity, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) have renewed their commitment to ensuring that eligible inmates are not disenfranchised in future elections.
The pledge was reinforced during a courtesy visit by the Comptroller General of NCoS, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday.
Welcoming the NCoS delegation, Prof. Yakubu commended the agency’s longstanding role in election security through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). He emphasized that the right to vote remains a fundamental human right, especially for inmates awaiting trial, drawing comparisons with countries such as Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa where prisoners are allowed to vote.
Citing legal precedents from the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal in Benin affirming awaiting trial inmates’ voting rights, Yakubu stressed that the exercise of such rights must be voluntary and backed by clear legal provisions. He called for legislative engagement to interpret or amend Section 12(1)(e) of the Electoral Act 2022 to accommodate inmate voting fully.
The INEC Chairman revealed that a joint technical committee had been set up by both agencies to examine modalities for implementation, including voter registration within facilities, creation of polling units, voter education, and involvement of political parties, election observers, and the media. He also praised the advocacy of civil society organizations like the Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (CAPIO) and welcomed the National Assembly’s supportive stance.
In his remarks, Comptroller General Nwakuche lamented the exclusion of inmates from Nigeria’s democratic process, noting that over 66% of the country’s 81,000 inmates are awaiting trial and therefore presumed innocent. He stressed that even convicted persons retain certain constitutional rights, including the right to vote.
“Anybody can find themselves on the other side of the law,” Nwakuche said, urging society to uphold fairness and constitutional guarantees for all. He assured that NCoS is ready to provide data, logistical access, and institutional backing to ensure inmates can register and vote.
Both leaders expressed optimism that ongoing consultations will yield practical frameworks soon, with lawmakers, political parties, civil society groups, and the media expected to play active roles.
The meeting marks a significant milestone in the drive to broaden civic participation and uphold democratic rights within Nigeria’s correctional institutions.
