By Sam Kayode
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in Borno state Alhaji Abubakar Ma’aji has said that no physically challenged resident will be disenfranchised in the forthcoming general elections in 2027.
Alhaji Maaji stated recently that meticulous arrangements have been made to ensure that regardless of the nature of the challenge, if such special people get to the polling unit, they will be treated with dispatch adding that such people indeed need special treatment.
Responding to a question from this reporter during a recent news conference in his office in Maiduguri recently, the Borno REC said that top gear preparations are in process to ensure that all such people classified under the term “vulnerable” will never undergo the registration process for any elections with sorrow or even tears anymore.
“Inec is seriously working on the process of not stressing vulnerable people by coming out to vote if they can vote from home. But you know this is a continuous process which will take some time but we will get there soon. However, special registration centres would be created for disabled people who wish to vote” said Ma’aji.
He used the opportunity to announce the first phase of the 2025/26 continuous voter registration exercise which has already started from the 18th of August and will end on the 21st of December 2025.
He said that the registration process would be done in three phases with the second phase starting from the 5th of January to 17th April 2026 while the third phase will start from 4th May to 30th August 2026.
” The physical in-person registration shall be conducted in all INEC State and LGA offices nationwide from 9.am to 3pm on weekdays except public holidays.
” The online pre-registration will enable prospective registrants to commence their registration online and to book an appointment for a date and time to complete the registration in person at an INEC state or LGA offices across the state.” He maintained.
Speaking on security of residents of Abadam, Guzamala, Kala Balge, and Marte council areas of the state, the REC stated that they will relocate their registration process to Maiduguri which is relatively safe so that there would not be any hitch on both sides.
About 66,072 unclaimed cards were counted in the last exercise.
