In a significant push for electoral inclusivity, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has announced that prison inmates in Nigeria will soon gain the right to vote in elections.
The initiative marks a crucial shift in Nigeria’s democratic process, as discussions between INEC and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) have commenced to outline modalities for implementing inmates’ enfranchisement.
During a historic meeting held in Abuja, the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche Ofori, emphasized the need to restore voting rights to over 81,000 incarcerated Nigerians, noting that 66% of them are awaiting trial and legally presumed innocent.
“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,” Ofori stated. “The fact that they are in incarceration should not strip them of their citizenship.”
Professor Yakubu welcomed the proposal, highlighting precedents in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, where inmates already participate in elections. He referenced Nigerian court rulings in 2014 and 2018 that upheld the voting rights of inmates, particularly those awaiting trial.
“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,” Yakubu said.
He added that INEC’s next step would be to engage with the National Assembly to secure legal backing for this democratic expansion.
If implemented, Nigeria would join a growing number of African democracies that recognize incarcerated citizens’ right to vote, aligning electoral laws with international human rights standards.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
