Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The push to extend voting rights to thousands of imprisoned Nigerians is gaining momentum as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) open formal discussions on the matter.
During an inaugural official visit to INEC headquarters in Abuja, the Controller General of the NCoS, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche Ofori, advocated for the enfranchisement of over 81,000 inmates in the country. He stressed that more than 66 per cent of them are awaiting trial and, therefore, presumed innocent under the law.
“Anybody can find themselves on the other side of the law. We need to be careful how they are treated. They have rights, and one of those rights is the right to vote. The fact that they are in incarceration should not strip them of their citizenship,” Ofori said, urging that this fundamental right be extended to inmates in the near future.
INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu welcomed the proposal, noting that Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa already permit inmates to vote. He recalled court rulings in 2014 and 2018 affirming the voting rights of certain categories of inmates, particularly those awaiting trial.
“Working together, we can seize the opportunity of ongoing electoral reform for a clear legal provision that will specifically cover citizens serving time in our correctional facilities,” Mahmood said. “Our immediate task is to engage with the National Assembly for clarity and legal backing.”
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