The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to allow eligible prison inmates to participate in Nigeria’s electoral process, in line with a court judgment affirming their right to vote.

Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known on Friday during a visit by the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, at the Commission's headquarters in Abuja. Yakubu referenced a landmark ruling by the Court of Appeal in Benin, which upheld the voting rights of inmates, particularly those awaiting trial. He emphasized the Commission’s readiness to comply with the ruling, provided all electoral activities involving inmates are conducted in accordance with existing laws. He revealed that INEC has held several consultations with the correctional service to develop a framework that addresses key logistics, including facility access, political party participation, and clarity on which categories of inmates are eligible to vote under the law. However, the INEC Chairman also stressed the importance of legislative backing to fully implement inmate voting, calling for the intervention of the National Assembly to support the process. On his part, the NCoS Comptroller General, Sylvester Nwakuche, urged INEC to extend voting rights to prison inmates, noting that over 81,000 individuals are currently held in correctional centres nationwide — with approximately 66 percent of them awaiting trial. Nwakuche reiterated the constitutional rights of inmates, especially those not yet convicted, and called for necessary steps to ensure their inclusion in Nigeria’s democratic process. The issue of inmate voting gained traction after the 2019 Court of Appeal ruling in favour of five inmates who petitioned for the right to be registered and to vote. While the court upheld their right, it did not compel INEC to set up voter registration centres in prisons, leaving the operational details to be worked out. INEC’s latest move is seen as a significant step towards inclusivity and electoral reform, as the commission explores how best to uphold the rights of all citizens, regardless of incarceration status.