Ahead of the 2027 general elections, TAF Africa, in partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has extended the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of efforts to deepen electoral inclusion.

The two-day intervention, funded by the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) project, is aimed at removing barriers that often prevent vulnerable groups from participating in the electoral process.

The exercise commenced on Thursday at the Yangoji PWD Camp in Kwali Area Council and continued on Friday at the Wasa IDP Camp, where eligible residents were registered as voters. Officials also processed requests for the replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), as well as transfers of polling units.

Assistant Programme Manager at TAF Africa, Mr. George Dominic, said the initiative was designed to reach underserved communities that are frequently left out of civic interventions.

“At TAF Africa, our intervention under the EU-SDGN project is to ensure the participation of PWDs and IDPs in the electoral process. These are underserved communities that are rarely reached during civic engagement programmes, and we are committed to changing that,” he said.

Dominic explained that the exercise would also benefit first-time voters while enabling those with lost or defaced PVCs to obtain replacements, expressing confidence that the initiative would boost voter participation in the 2027 elections.

INEC Assistant Director in the Gender and Inclusivity Department, Dr. Perpetual Nwanna, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting inclusive elections, noting that the partnership with TAF Africa was bringing voter registration closer to disadvantaged Nigerians.

“That is why you see us here in partnership with TAF Africa, coming directly to the grassroots to register less privileged individuals who might not otherwise have the opportunity or financial means to travel to distant registration centres,” she said.

Nwanna highlighted several measures introduced by INEC to make elections more accessible to persons with disabilities, including Braille ballot guides for visually impaired voters, magnifying glasses for persons with albinism, and priority assistance for physically challenged voters on election day.

She added that the commission would sustain similar sensitisation campaigns across the 36 states and the FCT to ensure that no eligible Nigerian is denied the right to vote because of disability or location.

Also speaking, TAF Africa’s Facility and Logistics Officer, Mr. Affam Kasim, said the organisation had already conducted similar voter registration outreach programmes in Kaduna, Benue and Osun states and would soon extend the initiative to Ekiti State.

He urged all eligible Nigerians in the affected communities to take advantage of the exercise, stressing that “your vote is your power.”