The Centre for Citizens with Disability (CCD) has demanded inclusion of Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDS) in Electoral processes in Lagos and the country.
The Executive Director of CCD, Mr David Anyaele, made the call at a two-day programme on Capacity Building on Equal Voting for People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Lagos.
It had the theme: “Building an All-Inclusive electioneering Process in Lagos State’’.
Anyaele, in his welcome address, said that since 2019, CCD had been making efforts for election management and stakeholders to see the need for PWDs to participate in the electoral process.
He reviewed CCD’s pre-2023 national elections courtesy visit to INEC at its Yaba office in October 2021, in which CCD demanded PWDs inclusion in the electoral process.
It had also demanded that INEC provides PWDs with all the necessary assistive materials to enhance their access to voting in the 2023 elections.
Anyaele said that contrary to INEC’s claims of having provided the necessary materials for PWDs, it failed to deliver on its promises.
According to him, INEC did not provide adequate braille ballot papers and magnifying glasses for both the visually impaired and the albinos.
“Also, some of INEC’s adhoc staff were not conversant with the devices and even unsympathetic to PWDs; and that as a result, made them to be disenfranchised.
“We are concerned about the struggles PWDs go through in their efforts to participate in the electoral process.
“Our individual accessibility to social infrastructures and the awareness of our rights as PWDs remain very low.
“During the last local government elections that were held in Lagos State, PDWs struggled much more.
“Therefore, in order to minimise the challenges we had, with support from Voice Oxfam Nigeria, we are engaging the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) to ensure equal voting access to PWDs and that nobody is left behind in the electoral process for reasons of disability,’’ he said.
Anyaele said that Lagos State had no fewer than two million PWDs living in more than 20 Local Government Areas and 37 LCDAs.
About the Author
