The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that inmates in Nigerian correctional facilities will be allowed to vote in future elections, in compliance with a Court of Appeal judgment affirming their right to participate in the electoral process.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Friday during a meeting with the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Yakubu said the Commission has held a series of meetings with the Correctional Service to develop a framework for implementing the ruling.
Discussions have focused on access to facilities, concerns raised by political parties, and identifying which categories of inmates are eligible to vote.
He emphasized the need for legislative support from the National Assembly to ensure the process aligns with existing laws and electoral guidelines.
The INEC chairman reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to upholding the rights of inmates, particularly those awaiting trial, noting that over 81,000 individuals are currently in custody, with about 66 percent yet to be convicted.
The move follows a 2019 Court of Appeal decision in Benin, Edo State, which upheld the voting rights of inmates after five prisoners filed a suit demanding inclusion in the voter register.
However, the court declined to compel INEC to establish registration centres within prison facilities.
Yakubu assured that the Commission would work within legal boundaries to ensure eligible inmates are not disenfranchised in future elections.
