The move to grant voting rights to Nigerians in correctional facilities gained renewed momentum on Thursday as the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche Ofori, met with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja. The meeting, sourced from INEC’s official X (formerly Twitter) page, focused on ways to enfranchise over 81,000 incarcerated Nigerians, the majority of whom are awaiting trial.
In his first official visit to INEC since assuming office, Ofori described inmates as an “often-overlooked” segment of the population, stressing that more than 66 percent are yet to be convicted and therefore remain presumed innocent under the law.
“Anybody can find themselves on the other side of the law,” Ofori told INEC officials. “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.”
The Controller General referenced a landmark court ruling in Benin as well as resolutions of the National Assembly that affirmed inmates’ voting rights. He urged INEC to design a framework that would allow eligible prisoners to participate in elections without undermining security or transparency. “I am here to see how we can, even if not immediately, in the nearest future, extend this fundamental right to inmates,” he said.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, welcomed the proposal, noting that countries such as Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa already allow inmates to vote. He pointed out that Nigerian court judgments in 2014 and 2018 had upheld the right of certain categories of prisoners, particularly those awaiting trial, to participate in elections.
Yakubu revealed that INEC had in the past established a joint technical committee with NCoS to examine the logistics and legal framework for inmate voting. The committee’s work included mapping correctional facilities, categorising inmates, and assessing requirements for voter registration, polling units, and access for political parties, observers, and the media.
“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,” Yakubu said. “Our immediate task is to engage with the National Assembly for clarity and legal backing.”
Both institutions acknowledged potential challenges such as security concerns, political campaigning within prison facilities, and the eligibility of convicted persons. However, they expressed optimism that these issues could be resolved through collaboration with lawmakers, civil society groups, and election stakeholders.
Advocacy organisations like the Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (CAPIO) have long championed inmate voting rights, framing it as a step toward a more inclusive democracy.
While no concrete timeline was set, the meeting reflected a growing consensus that Nigeria could soon join other nations where prisoners are able to cast ballots.
“Inmates are part of our society,” Ofori emphasised. “If we deny them the right to participate in democracy, we deny ourselves the opportunity to make our democracy truly representative.”
