Elections: FG reaffirms commitment to protect rights of PwDs

The Federal Government says it will continue to provide an enabling environment for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to exercise their rights to vote and be voted for during elections.

Chief Ayuba Gufwan, the Executive Secretary, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) said this on Saturday in Abuja.

Gufwan spoke to journalists while responding to questions in the situation room in Abuja from where he monitored the Edo governorship election.

He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for providing a conducive atmosphere for PwDs to exercise their franchise and urged them to sustain the tempo.

Gufwan said that the process complied with the provisions of the Discriminations Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.

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“We are getting positive reports about the special treatments given to persons with disabilities in some of the wards where the election is taking place today in Edo,” he said.

Gufwan said the aim of setting up the situation room was to check any form of discrimination against PwDs before, during, and after the elections.

“In addition to that, the commission will assess the voters turnout of the disability communities in the state and point-out their areas of concerns.

“Security and safety of our members during the exercise is paramount because disability community is the most vulnerable group that needs to be protected in an exercise such as the election,” he said.