POLITICS
‘No Eligible Voter Must Be Left Behind’ — INEC, Canada, IFES Mobilise For Inclusive 2027 Polls
‘No Eligible Voter Must Be Left Behind’ — INEC, Canada, IFES Mobilise For Inclusive 2027 Polls
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INEC is stepping up efforts to make voter education more inclusive ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Gender and Inclusivity staff from across the country undergoing specialised training on how to reach citizens with different educational, linguistic, geographical, and physical needs.
Canada and IFES are supporting the initiative as part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process, with Canada stressing that democratic participation must be accessible to all citizens.
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The initiative goes beyond persons with disabilities, with stakeholders identifying non-English speakers and people with limited literacy.
INEC said its existing inclusion measures must be matched with effective voter education, citing its Gender Policy, framework for Internally Displaced Persons, Braille Ballot Guide and other accessibility interventions as part of efforts to ensure marginalised citizens can participate meaningfully in the 2027 elections.
October 07, () – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in partnership with the Government of Canada and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), has intensified preparations for inclusive voter education ahead of the 2027 General Election, with a fresh training programme aimed at ensuring that no eligible voter is excluded from the electoral process.
The two-day National Inclusive Voter Education Training, supported by Canada through its Fund for Local Initiatives and organised in collaboration with IFES, brought together staff of INEC’s Gender and Inclusivity Department from various states and other relevant officials.
Held at the Exclusive Serene Hotel, Wuye, Abuja, the training focused on practical strategies for designing and delivering voter education that can reach citizens across different social, educational, geographical, and physical circumstances.
The initiative is part of the Commission’s broader effort under its Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, to strengthen an electoral process that is free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive, with particular attention to groups that have historically faced barriers to political participation.
Speaking at the programme, First Secretary, Political Affairs, High Commission of Canada in Nigeria, Colton Bridges, said Canada regarded inclusive elections and democratic processes as important components of democratic development.
Bridges said the training was funded through Canada’s Fund for Local Initiatives and formed part of several election-related projects being supported by the Canadian government as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections.
He urged participants to use the training to develop new and practical strategies for ensuring voter education reaches citizens who may otherwise be left out.
“I hope for the next two days, what you’re going to take away from it is maybe how to do it a little bit better, how to do it differently, some strategies you can use to ensure that your education is inclusive,” he said.
Bridges, who disclosed that he had participated in election observation missions in Ondo, Anambra and Osun states, said those experiences had enabled him to witness some of INEC’s efforts to promote inclusive elections, particularly in relation to persons with disabilities.
He, however, stressed that electoral inclusion should not be limited to disability-related concerns.
According to him, voter education must also take into account citizens who do not speak English fluently, people with limited literacy, residents of remote communities and Nigerians without access to the internet.
He said citizens who require specific forms of information or messaging must be reached through approaches that enable them to understand the electoral process and exercise their rights.
On persons with disabilities, Bridges acknowledged that many of the challenges confronting them, including limited access to education and employment, extend beyond INEC’s mandate.
He maintained, however, that the electoral commission had the power to ensure that the voting process itself was accessible.
“What you have the power to do is to make sure that the electoral process is accessible to them, that they can vote, that they can exercise their franchise,” he said.
Bridges expressed optimism that the training would equip INEC personnel with practical tools to make voter education more accessible, effective and responsive to the needs of different communities.
Every Election Is Different
INEC in partnership with the Government of Canada and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems IFES intensified preparations for inclusive voter education ahead of the 2027 General Election
Also speaking, IFES Regional Director for Africa and Country Director for Nigeria, Seray Jah, described the training as an important new area of collaboration between IFES, INEC and the Canadian government.
Jah said IFES had previously supported INEC’s Voter Education Department in developing Frequently Asked Questions, adding that the latest initiative would provide additional knowledge that could strengthen the Commission’s voter education activities.
She commended Canada for supporting efforts aimed at ensuring elections are not merely conducted but are accessible and inclusive.
According to her, the fundamental democratic purpose of an election is to provide every eligible citizen with an opportunity to participate, regardless of their circumstances.
She urged participants to approach the training with an open mind and avoid assuming that years of experience in election administration meant there was nothing new to learn.
“This is kind of a training of trainers. And so do not assume that because you’ve been in INEC for so many years, you know everything,” Jah said.
Drawing from her experience as an election practitioner, she said every election presented different circumstances, making adaptability and continuous learning essential for electoral officials.
“Every election is different,” she said, urging the participants to acquire and apply new knowledge in their engagement with voters.
INEC Targets Marginalised Voters
In her welcome remarks, Director, Gender and Inclusivity Department, INEC, Mrs Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that no category of eligible voter is left behind.
Bello expressed appreciation to IFES for its partnership and to the Canadian High Commission for supporting the training through the Fund for Local Initiatives.
She said INEC had introduced several policies and interventions aimed at improving the participation of women, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups in the electoral process.
Among the measures, she identified the Commission’s Gender Policy, its framework for the participation of Internally Displaced Persons in elections and the Braille Ballot Guide, alongside other accessibility initiatives for persons with disabilities.
She stressed, however, that policies and frameworks alone could not guarantee inclusion without effective voter education capable of reaching the intended beneficiaries.
“This training is key because it can give you an understanding of ways you can go out there to deliver voter education to ensure that all marginalised people can participate in the forthcoming election,” Bello said.
She challenged the participants to translate existing policies and interventions into practical voter education strategies targeted at communities and groups that face barriers to accessing electoral information.
According to her, electoral information must be delivered in formats that citizens can access, understand, and use, regardless of their circumstances.