The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has suggested that inmates in Nigeria Correctional Centres
could partake in the voting process for 2023 general elections.
INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, revealed this during a meeting with the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, and his team at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, on Tuesday.
While in the meeting, both organisations agreed to change the norm by granting voting rights in compliance with an existing High Court judgement in Benin City, which ruled in favour of inmate voting.
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According to 2020 records, there were about 73,726 inmates in Nigeria’s correctional facilities across the nation.
The body’s principal affirmed that the board was committed to inclusivity, involving the rights of inmates to vote during elections.
He further noted that inmates’ voting rights have been recognised by Kenya and South Africa on the African continent, hence, Nigeria was ready to follow suit.
Moreso, Yakubu, raised some germane issues which needed to be addressed to allow for successful inmates’ voting, noting that “there was need to discuss the practicalities of how this could be achieved in Nigeria.”
He said;
“Let me start with the Legal Framework. Section 12, sub-section 1 of the Electoral Act 2022 lists five qualifications for registration as a voter in Nigeria, because you have to register as a voter before the right to exercise that right is conferred. That section of the Electoral Act has at least 5 qualifications.
Number one, the prospective registrant must be a Nigerian citizen. Number two, he or she must be 18 years of age, at least. Number three, he or she must originate, reside or work in the local government or be covered by the registration centre or the point of registration. Number four, that citizen of Nigeria must present himself or herself to the registration officer for registration and support.
“And number five, which is really critical to our discussion today, is that he or she must not be subject to any legal incapacity to vote under any law, rule, or regulation imposed in Nigeria.
“This is one area that we need to discuss so that we know the categories of inmates that will exercise the right to vote and I’m happy that you came with your Director, Legal.
“We, therefore, need to work things out carefully. We want transparency of the process. Because everything that we do in the Commission, particularly when it comes to the rights of citizens to vote, must be done transparently.”
Other issues included the location of polling units for inmates, the possibility of political party campaigns in the correctional facilities, voter education for inmates, voter registration for inmates, and observers’ access to correctional facilities to monitor elections if polling units had to be situated in the facilities.
He pointed out the need to address the issues militating against inmates’ voting as soon as possible, stressing that the 2023 general election was seven months away.
Yakubu said,
“The sooner we’re able to address these issues, the better for the process. But remember, we have only a little over seven months to the next general election. But the next general election is not going to be the last election conducted by Nigeria. So, even if we don’t meet all these critical thresholds in 2023, we’ll continue with a discussion to see what happens beyond 2023.”
The CG of NCOs, represented by Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Operations, Daniel Odaro, had earlier explained that the purpose of their visit was to discuss the issue of the inmates’ voting rights.
He pointed out that the ruling from the High Court which ruled in favour of inmates’ voting was why they were in the commission to discuss the modalities to actualise the idea.
