The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has begun training its Gender and Inclusivity staff to deliver voter education that reaches every category of eligible citizen, as preparations for the 2027 General Election gather pace.
The two-day National Inclusive Voter Education Training, supported by the Government of Canada through its Fund for Local Initiatives and organised with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, IFES, is being held at the Exclusive Serene Hotel, Wuye, Abuja.
It has brought together staff of the Commission’s Gender and Inclusivity Department from the states, along with other relevant colleagues. The focus is on practical approaches to ensuring that voter information reaches, and can be understood by, all eligible citizens.
While declaring the training open, the First Secretary, Political Affairs, at the High Commission of Canada in Nigeria, Colton Bridges, said Canada regards inclusive elections as an important component of democratic development.
He said the project is one of several election-related initiatives Canada is supporting in Nigeria as preparations for 2027 intensify, and that the focus on inclusion reflects Canada’s belief that democratic processes must be accessible to all citizens.
Bridges, who has taken part in election observation missions in Ondo, Anambra and Osun States, said those experiences showed him some of INEC’s efforts to promote inclusive elections, particularly for persons with disabilities.
He stressed, however, that inclusion must not stop there. He identified other groups who may need tailored approaches to voter education: people who do not speak English fluently, persons with limited literacy, residents of remote communities and citizens without internet access.
“People who need specific types of information or specific types of messaging, must be reached so they can participate fully,” he said.
On persons with disabilities, Bridges acknowledged that many of the challenges they face, including access to education and employment, extend beyond INEC’s mandate.
He maintained, however, that the Commission has both the responsibility and the capacity to ensure the electoral process itself is accessible, so that they can vote and exercise their franchise.
He expressed appreciation to IFES for its contribution and told participants he hoped they would leave with ideas on how to “do it a little bit better” and “differently,” including strategies for making voter education more inclusive.
Consistent with INEC’s direction
The training aligns with the direction of the Commission under its Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, whose leadership has emphasised free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections that reflect the will of the Nigerian people.
