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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is hopeful that prisoners in Nigerian correctional facilities would cast ballots in the general election of 2023.
Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, the chairman of INEC, dropped the hint when meeting with the comptroller-general of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa on Tuesday.
Both organisations agreed during the meeting that it was time for prisoners to be allowed to vote.
This is by a current Benin City High Court decision that supported inmate voting.
Approximately 73,726 prisoners were housed in Nigeria’s prisons as of the year 2020.
The INEC chairman reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to inclusivity; which includes allowing prisoners to exercise their right to vote in elections.
He pointed out that inmates’ voting rights have been recognised by Kenya and South Africa on the African continent; adding that Nigeria was ready to toe a similar path.
Yakubu, however, raised some germane issues which needed to be addressed to allow for successful inmates’ voting, adding that “there was a 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…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. 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 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 in 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.”
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