March 09, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Senate has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to allow duly registered and eligible prison inmates to exercise their franchise during the 2023 general elections and all other subsequent polls.
The Upper Chamber made the appeal during plenary on Tuesday, when it considered a motion on The prerogative of Prison Inmates to vote in general elections in Nigeria.
Debating the motion sponsored by Senator Abba Moro, the lawmakers called on INEC to determine the status of the inmates that are constitutionally and legally qualified to be registered as eligible voters.
They urged INEC and all relevant agencies to carry out voter’s enlightenment in all Nigerian prisons, to educate the inmates of their rights and necessity to exercise their franchise in general elections.
The lawmakers also urged the INEC to update its register of voters while taking into account the prison population for the purpose of elections.
The Senate further directed the INEC in collaboration with the Nigeria Correctional Service to locate voting centres at custodial centres across the country to be used for voting.
