In
order to support efforts by electoral authorities and other
democratic institutions in driving inclusive political
participation ahead of the 2027 general elections, the European
Union, through its Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN)
programme, has launched the Able2Run campaign aimed at increasing the
participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in
Nigeria’s electoral process.
The
campaign was launched in Abuja on Tuesday as part of broader
efforts under the EU-SDGN programme to promote inclusive governance, equal
political participation, and representation for marginalised groups in
Nigeria’s democracy. The initiative seeks to encourage persons with
disabilities to participate actively in politics, not only as voters, but also
as aspirants, candidates, elected officials, and political leaders at all
levels of governance.
The
statement was delivered at the launch event by the Chief Executive
Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, whose organisation is implementing the
disability inclusion component of the EU-SDGN programme.
Mr
Epelle said the campaign was designed to challenge stereotypes that equate
disability with inability and to push for greater political inclusion of PWDs
in Nigeria’s democratic process.
“A
democracy that excludes millions of persons with disabilities from political
leadership and decision-making cannot truly claim to be inclusive,
representative, or just,” he said.
According
to him, Nigeria has an estimated 34.9 million persons with disabilities,
representing a significant voting bloc capable of
influencing electoral outcomes if properly mobilised and politically
organised.
Citing
figures from the 2023 presidential election, Mr Epelle noted that the
total votes secured by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu were far below the estimated
number of persons living with disabilities in the country.
“This
comparison underscores the political strength this constituency possesses. If
mobilised and politically organised, persons with disabilities represent a
voting bloc large enough to influence elections and potentially produce elected
leaders at every level,” he said.
The
EU-supported initiative comes amid concerns over the low level of political
representation for persons with disabilities across the country, despite
existing legal protections under the Discrimination Against Persons with
Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, and international obligations under the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Findings
presented at the launch showed that between 2019 and 2025, only four
persons with disabilities occupied elective political offices across Nigeria,
representing less than 0.1% of elective positions nationwide. The findings also
showed that none of the elected officials identified during the period were
women with disabilities, highlighting what stakeholders described as a
significant representation gap.
Mr
Epelle said that while over 200 persons with disabilities currently occupy
political positions, more than 99% of them are serving in appointive capacities
rather than through electoral mandates.
“The
time has come to move from symbolic inclusion to substantive representation.
Persons with disabilities must no longer remain at the margins of political
participation,” he said.
As
part of the campaign, the EU-SDGN programme also announced the opening of a
national mentorship and coaching initiative for aspiring politicians with
disabilities interested in contesting elective offices, including
councillorships, chairmanships, governorships, National Assembly seats, and the
presidency.
The
programme aims to establish virtual political incubation hubs across Nigeria’s
six geopolitical zones and provide mentorship support for at least 180 aspiring
politicians with disabilities.
Participants
will receive training in leadership, campaign financing, voter mobilisation,
strategic communication, political negotiation, and inclusive governance.
Mr
Epelle also issued a series of calls to action directed at political parties,
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), government
institutions, and the wider Nigerian public.
“We
call on political parties to adopt deliberate disability inclusion policies,
make nomination forms affordable for persons with disabilities, and remove
discriminatory barriers that continue to exclude qualified aspirants,” he said.
He
further urged INEC to strengthen disability-disaggregated voter data and
enforce inclusion guidelines for political parties, while calling on Nigerians
to support competent candidates with disabilities.
“Leadership
is about vision, integrity, competence, and service, not physical condition,”
Mr Epelle submitted.
