INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu
By JOHN ONAH, Abuja –
The Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has called on on security agents to appreciate and prioritise the safety and protection of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in order to give them confidence and encouragement to come out en mass to exercise their franchise on the election day.
Yakubu made this call on Thursday in Abuja during a workshop on inclusive election security towards the 2023 general election organised by The Albino Foundation (TAF) and DAI.
He said, “very importantly therefore, we need you, the security agents, to appreciate and prioritise the safety and protection of PWDs in order to give them the confidence and courage to come out enmass to exercise their franchise on the election day”
The Chairman who was represented byhe National Commissioner, Prof. Kunle Ajjayi noted that workshops on how to improve inclusion and promote the mainstreaming of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria’s electoral process are always a commendable initiative.
“I must emphasize right from the onset that PWDs are an important integral part of the society and have the right to participate in all areas of human endeavours without stigmatization, discrimination and exclusion”.
He disclosed that the recent successes recorded by INEC at Anambra, FCT. Ekiti and Osun States was a combination of various contributory factors of security agents..
“However, the one consistent factor that I want to make reference to today for the purpose of this workshop is the unflinching commitment, support and synergy of all the security agents under the auspices of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). Let me say that the Commission appreciates all members of ICCES”, he added,
“According to the National Population Commission (NPC) data, there are at least nineteen (19) million Nigerians who are living with disabilities and from our own records, many of them are registered voters who could be mobilized in favour of any inclusive party. This implies that, PWDs are a major democratic demography and have strong electoral strength”.
“Furthermore, the non-negotiable minimum of a credible and democratic electioneering process is in its inclusivity drive i.e., ability of all stakeholders to access and participate in the electoral space on the basis of equality is very crucial to an inclusive democracy”, he added.
Yakubu further noted that ensuring the right of PWDs to vote and be voted for was one of the most visible gains in a thriving democracy.
The INEC Boss also hinted that promoting these rights and freedom to equally participate in elections was provided in both local and international declarations and protocols as endorsed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
“The Commission understands that PWDs face several obstacles around key processes within the electoral and political process which tend to subtract their contributions towards development of the electoral and political landscape”.
“To this end, the Commission has taken every step and made every arrangement for the successful inclusion of PWDs to ensure an inclusive election. To achieve this, the Commission has launched the INEC Framework on Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in the Electoral Process”.
“Beyond that, the 2022 Electoral Act underscores the participation of PWDs in the electoral process. Specifically, Section 54 of the Act provides for assistive and inclusive devices, which in a sense, has codified some of the initiatives already undertaken by the Commission. With a database of over eighty-five thousand (85,000) PWDs on INEC’s voters register, the Commission has finalised plans to provide for their specific assistive needs such as: the Braille ballot guide in 5,958 Polling Units where we recorded visually impaired persons, magnifying glasses in 16,071 Polling Units where we have registered people with albinism and enlarged posters in 5,145 Polling Units where there are hard of hearing persons. In addition, the Commission is reviewing an inclusive PWD-friendly voting cubicle to ensure a more seamless voting experience for the physically challenged”
He stated that, while INEC has put in place the aforementioned plans and the disability framework towards providing a level playing field for the PWD community, other stakeholders, especially the security, in this case, also have very important contributions to make towards the actualization of a truly inclusive 2023 General Election.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of TAF, Jake Epelle observed that the greatest problem o inclusivity was voter apathy.
He noted that factor responsible for apathy was security as PWDs not protected will be afraid to go out and vote.
Speaking at the occasion, the representatives of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Akali Baba and the Commandant General of NSCDC, Ahmed Audi expressed their readiness to the protection of PWDs during election and after the election.
They disclosed that, as part of their commitments, they have established special desks to cater for the need of PWDs order for them to have access to police unhindered.
