INEC To Deploy Braille Guides, Magnifiers For PWDs In 2027 Elections — Oyo REC …Says 77,015 New PVCs Ready For Collection
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Oyo State has assured Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) of full inclusion in forthcoming 2027 general elections, saying it will deploy Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses and other assistive devices to guarantee their participation.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Prof. Rahmon Adeniran Tella, gave the assurance on Wednesday at a training workshop for PWDs on massive participation in 2027 elections, held at State Collation Centre, INEC office, Ibadan.
Prof. Tella who was represented by Mrs Agnes Oluwatomisin assured that no eligible citizen will be left behind, noting that Commission remains committed to electoral process that is accessible, credible, transparent and inclusive.
“Persons with Disabilities constitute an important segment of our society. You are citizens with equal rights, responsibilities, aspirations and contributions to make towards development of our nation. Disability should never be a barrier to exercising one’s civic rights,” he assured.
The REC, who noted that 2027 general election is about 95 days away, said democracy derives its strength and legitimacy from participation of the people and election can only be truly inclusive when every eligible citizen has fair opportunity to participate.
Prof. Tella disclosed that INEC will provide assistive devices for pleasant voting experience on Election Day, including magnifying glasses for persons with visual impairment and albinism, Braille ballot guide for visually impaired voters and written instruction posters for voters with hearing impairment at polling units.
He further assured that the INEC guidelines provide priority voting for PWDs without waiting in long queues, same applicable to elderly, pregnant women and nursing mothers, to make polling units easily accessible.
Prof. Tella also assured that the Commission will train and engage qualified PWDs as ad hoc personnel during election, as done during off-cycle elections, including NYSC members with disabilities, to make electoral process more inclusive and participatory.
He admitted that there may still be challenges such as inaccessibility to some polling units, inadequate access to electoral information in appropriate formats, communication barriers and negative societal attitudes, but assured that they will be collectively addressed through continuous engagement and stakeholder collaboration.
On PVCs, the REC assured PWDs of opportunity to vote, disclosing that first batch of newly printed PVCs, about 77,015, are being distributed across 351 Registration Areas in Oyo State from Friday, 9th October to 15th October, 2026, before continuation at LGA level from 16th October, and urged participants to take advantage of exercise.
He charged participants to become advocates of inclusive electoral participation within their families, organizations and communities.
Deputy Director, Gender and Inclusivity Department, Mrs Habba Jatto, said the workshop was to strengthen understanding of disability inclusion and ensure interventions reach intended beneficiaries and are properly utilized.
The State Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Oyo State Chapter, Mr Abiodun Kolawole, commended the INEC for the assurance and appealed for fair and automatic consideration of PWDs for Observers and ad hoc staff positions to promote economic empowerment and inclusion.
