INEC to Allow Prison Inmates Vote in 2027 General Elections – Yakubu

Onyenobi Chinwendu Samuel
August 8, 2025

Abuja Nigeria 🇳🇬 – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to include prison inmates in the 2027 general elections, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s democratic process.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made the declaration on Friday, August 8, 2025, during a policy engagement in Abuja. He stated that the right to vote is constitutionally guaranteed and that the Commission is working to ensure no eligible Nigerian, including those in correctional centres, is disenfranchised.

“The right to vote is not a privilege. It is a constitutional right, and INEC is committed to making sure inmates who are eligible are not left out,” Yakubu affirmed.

This move follows a May 2025 Supreme Court ruling, which affirmed INEC’s authority to implement systems that allow inmate voting, including establishing polling units inside correctional facilities or enabling supervised voting outside them.

INEC has already submitted proposals to the National Assembly to amend the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022, aiming to legally support voting for inmates, early voters (e.g., security agencies), and Nigerians abroad.

The Commission is partnering with the Nigerian Correctional Service and civil society groups to map eligible inmates, conduct voter registration, and carry out voter education in selected correctional facilities. A pilot phase is expected in 2026 ahead of full rollout in 2027.

Eligibility will be limited to inmates who meet the legal voting age and are not under any judicial disqualification. Convicts of electoral offences will remain barred.

Human rights advocates have welcomed the move as a long-overdue step towards inclusive democracy. However, some stakeholders have called for strict vetting and security measures during implementation.

If successful, Nigeria will join countries like South Africa and Kenya in recognizing inmates’ voting rights ; a bold step toward electoral inclusivity.

“A true democracy leaves no citizen behind,” Prof. Yakubu concluded.