ABUJA, August 8, 2025 — In a groundbreaking move that could reshape Nigeria’s electoral landscape, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that inmates in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) will be allowed to vote in future elections.
The announcement was made by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during a high-level meeting with NCoS Comptroller General, Sylvester Nwakuche, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. The policy shift follows a decisive Court of Appeal ruling affirming the constitutional right of inmates — particularly those awaiting trial — to participate in the democratic process.
Prof. Yakubu said the commission is committed to fully implementing the judgment, adding that discussions are ongoing to resolve logistical hurdles, including the establishment of polling units inside correctional facilities and the rollout of targeted voter education for inmates. He also called on the National Assembly to enact laws that will provide clear legislative backing for the new arrangement.
Comptroller General Nwakuche hailed the decision as a “victory for justice and fairness,” stressing that imprisonment should not erase a citizen’s right to have a say in governance.
According to official data, Nigeria currently has over 81,000 inmates, with an overwhelming 66 percent awaiting trial — a demographic that stands to significantly influence voter turnout once the policy takes effect. Although INEC did not announce an implementation date, the decision signals a bold step toward a more inclusive democracy in Africa’s most populous nation.