By a number of court rulings protecting their rights, the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, has reiterated its commitment to allowing qualified prisoners to cast ballots in Nigerian elections. This was revealed by INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu at a meeting with Nigeria Correctional Service Comptroller General Sylvester Nwakuche on Friday at the Commission's Abuja headquarters.
Yakubu stated that voting is a basic human right that shouldn't be restricted just because someone is incarcerated. He pointed out that a number of nations, such as Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, currently permit prisoners to take part in elections.
He cited a 2019 Court of Appeal decision that acknowledged prisoners' rights to register to vote, particularly those who are awaiting trial. He did, however, emphasize the necessity of a precise legislative framework to direct the procedure, urging the National Assembly to elucidate any clauses in the Electoral Act 2022 that would impact the eligibility of prisoners to vote.
Our priority is to work with the National Assembly to draft a clear law allowing prisoners to vote. After that, we can deal with any particular problems that might come up during implementation," he stated.
Access for voter registration, the establishment of polling stations within correctional facilities, political campaigns, observer monitoring, and media coverage were among the main operational issues mentioned by the INEC chairman.
According to him, political parties must also determine if they are permitted to use prisons for campaigning and to designate poll workers on election day.
In his speech, Nwakuche called on INEC to allow prisoners to vote, pointing out that over 81,000 prisoners are incarcerated nationally at the moment, with over 66% of them awaiting trial. Additionally, he referenced a recent court decision that upheld their constitutional right to vote.
In 2019, the Court of Appeal maintained the right of prisoners to vote, but it refrained from directing INEC to establish registration centers within prisons. Yakubu promised that to grant the right to vote to as many qualified prisoners as possible, the Commission will adhere to the law.