The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to partner with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to facilitate voting rights for eligible inmates in future elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu who made this known during a courtesy visit by the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja described the initiative as a step toward addressing the longstanding issue of inmate disenfranchisement.
He said voting is a fundamental human right that should not be denied simply because a person is in custody especially those who are awaiting trial.
Prof Yakubu however emphasized the need for legal clarity on the matter, noting that constitutional interpretation or legislative amendments may be required to enable full electoral participation for inmates.
In his remarks, Comptroller General Sylvester Nwakuche called on INEC to support efforts aimed at overcoming the legal and technical barriers to implementing inmate voting.
He revealed that of the over 81,000 inmates currently held in correctional facilities across the country, more than 66 percent are awaiting trial and, under Nigerian law, are presumed innocent.
