.Lauds INEC for enhancing PWD participation in electoral process

The Albino Foundation (TAF) Africa has called for enhanced security measures that can help to prevent or respond swiftly to incidents that threaten voter safety during elections.

Programmes Manager of the non-profit organisation, George Anwayi, made the call at a news briefing in Owerri to assess the participation of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in last Saturday’s elections.

According to Anwayi, considering the security breaches in Imo and Kogi states, security agencies should adopt proactive measures to deter and respond to any act of violence that could undermine the electoral process.

He noted that TAF Africa undertook a comprehensive observation mission during the 2023 off-cycle elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo.

Anwayi said: “Our primary focus was evaluating the compliance of the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) with the deployment of assistive tools for PWDs, access to priority voting as well as the overall experience of PWDs at the polls.

“The specific assistive tools included the braille ballot guide for the blind, large graphic posters for the deaf and magnifying glasses for persons with albinism.”

In a positive development, he added, there was notable improvement in the participation and overall experience of PWDs during the off-cycle election, in contrast to the general election earlier in the year.

“TAF Africa acknowledges the efforts by INEC to enhance accessibility and inclusivity for PWDs in the electoral process,” he said.

Founder/Chief executive Officer (CEO), TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, also observed challenges and incidents that require urgent attention and remedial action.

Epelle, who is also the Convener, Disability Inclusion Nigeria, made this known in a briefing, in Lokoja, on his observation on the three off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa.

“Despite the progress, there was uneven deployment of assistive tools across the observed states. Bayelsa recorded the highest percentage of deployment at 61 per cent, based on the 30 selected polling units, while Kogi and Imo experienced low deployment at 36 per cent and 33 per cent respectively, raising concerns about the consistency of INEC’s implementation of disability-inclusive measures,” he stated.

TAF Africa, therefore, recommends that INEC establishes and enforce a standardised protocol for the adequate deployment of assistive tools, ensuring equitable distribution across all states and polling units with registered persons with disabilities during elections.