Members of the Association of Persons with Disabilities have called on electoral stakeholders to prioritize their interests, especially when they are exercising their civic responsibilities on election day.
The call was made in Ilupeju Ekiti during the Able2Vote Community Outreach for Persons with Disabilities, organized by TAF Africa with support from the European Union.
Some PWD members, including Mr. Adedayo Oso and Mr. Babatola Atofowora, complained that polling unit officials often ignore them and push them aside as if they have no value to add to the electoral process.
They said the fear of possible violence at voting points is another factor that discourages them from voting.
Despite these challenges, the participants thanked the organizers for recognizing PWDs as an integral part of society, describing the sensitization and political education on how to vote for candidates of their choice as a welcome development.
Earlier, TAF Africa Programme Manager Dr. Andrew Adaji urged PWDs not to stay at home on election day saying that their participation is vital to the electoral process.
He advised those who became disabled after registering to revalidate their voter cards so their status could be properly updated as registration is ongoing.
In his contribution, TAF Africa’s Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mr. Terfa Qyokase, said Persons with Disabilities make up about 15 percent of Nigeria’s population, roughly 35 million people. He stressed that democracy cannot thrive when any section of society is marginalized, and affirmed that PWDs have the right to vote and contest elections.
Mr. Qyokase added that the Independent National Electoral Commission has made provisions to address communication and accessibility challenges, including creating a separate queue for PWDs at polling units.
He advised them to go early in groups, join the priority queue, and go with someone they trust for assistance, citing Section 54 of the Nigerian Constitution which protects the rights of persons with disabilities.
The organizers also demonstrated how PWDs could vote safely without injury or intimidation, and appealed to stakeholders to give them priority on election day.
By Busuyi Ogidiolu
