The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Professor Mahmood Yakubu has announced that prison inmates will be granted the right to vote in elections.
Discussions have commenced between INEC and the Correctional Service to address the voting rights of inmates.
The effort to grant voting rights to thousands of imprisoned Nigerians is gaining traction.
Today, the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service; Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche Ofori, held a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja to advocate for the enfranchisement of inmates.
During his inaugural official visit to INEC, Ofori highlighted an often neglected group: the more than 81,000 incarcerated Nigerians. He emphasized that over 66 percent of these individuals are awaiting trial and should be considered legally innocent.
He said:
“Anybody can find themselves on the other side of the law. We need to be careful how they are treated. They have rights, and one of those rights is the right to vote. The fact that they are incarcerated should not strip them of their citizenship.
“I am here to see how we can, even if not immediately, shortly, extend this fundamental right to inmates.”
Also Read: INEC to Commence Nationwide Voter Registration in 811 Centres From August 18
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, expressed appreciation for the proposal, pointing out that several African nations such as Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa already allow inmates to vote.
He recognized that court decisions in 2014 and 2018 upheld the rights of specific groups of inmates, especially those awaiting trial, to engage in the electoral process.
He said
“Working together, we can seize the opportunity of ongoing electoral reform for a clear legal provision that will specifically cover citizens serving time in our correctional facilities.
“Our immediate task is to engage with the National Assembly for clarity and legal backing.