BENIN CITY-Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), relevant agencies and political stakeholders to put machineries in place that would further afford them unhindered participation in Nigeria electioneering processes.
The PWDs made the call during a post-election press conference organized by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) and Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), in Benin City, yesterday.
The forum tagged “Leave No One Behind: Disabilities Votes Count Campaign” afforded participants opportunity to appraise some hindrances faced by persons with disabilities during the just conducted governorship election in Edo State, even as recommendations were made towards more inclusive future elections in Nigeria.
The Executive Director, Inclusive Friends Association, Grace Jerry, stated that the goal of the campaign is to facilitate the participation of eligible voters among the 25, 500, 000 PWDs in Nigeria by working to remove the accessibility and attitudinal barriers that hinder their participation.
She noted that the campaign hopes to achieve this by conducting evidence-based advocacy to decision makers including the INEC and the National Assembly.
The Executive Director further revealed that the campaign deployed advanced observation methodology that employed well-established statistical principles and utilized sophisticated information technology to observe the September 28, 2016 governorship election in Edo State.
According to her, their audit findings indicated that 65 percent of the polling units observed were inaccessible to PWDs, 96 percent of Election Day instructions/procedures were not explained in sign language to PWDs, just as guidelines were not posted for the benefit of the hearing impaired.
She further stated that ballots for the visually impaired were not provided as the space of the voting cubicle and the height of the ballot box were not suitable for persons with disabilities, especially those on wheelchairs.
However, the Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, David Anyaele, submitted that inaccessible materials and procedures will undermine their ability to exercise their democratic rights.
He appealed to INEC to carefully choose location of polling units to ensure that they are accessible to PWDs as flat surfaces with ramps and handrails would enhanced accessibility.
INEC was further advised to ensure that ballot boxes are not placed on high tables to enable PWDs cast their votes, independently.
The agencies however expressed readiness to work with INEC towards the achievements of the Leave No One Behind: Disabilities Votes Count Campaign.
Among others present at the event were Barr Melody Omosah and Omoregie Clara Edoghogho.
