By Musa Baba Adamu
Following the conduct of Ekiti state governorship polls, a group championing the course of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), the Inclusive Friends (IFA) has made some recommendations for a more inclusive electoral participation in the country.
The group said it arrived at the recommendations after making some observations during last Saturday’s polls in Ekiti state.
The group carried out this task through its Access Nigeria Campaign, where it deployed observers with Disabilities to observe accessibility of polling units and general election conduct across 16 LGAs of the state.
The Access Nigeria Campaign pursues its goal through evidence-based advocacy to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders to make election venues, materials, and processes more accessible to PWDs.
The campaign also conducts Get Out The Vote (GOTV) campaigns to increase PWDs voting.
According to a statement signed by Grace Jerry, Executive Director, IFA and Convener, Access Nigeria Campaign, going forward, INEC should ensure that newly created polling units are accessible to PWDs as well as relocate previously created polling units hat are inaccessible.
It suggested that this process can be achieved simultaneously with the allocation of voters to the newly created polling units that were previously not assigned any voters.
It said: “INEC should strengthen the training of regular and ad hoc staff to effectively administer accessible Election Day materials and accommodations for voters with disabilities.
“INEC should continue to engage and consult with the disability community, including IFA, to identify areas to be improved for more inclusive electoral processes. The Executive at the Federal and State Levels.
It also called on the federal and state governments to work with various agencies and the private sector to ensure that public buildings were built and renovated by the 2023 deadline to accommodate PWDs in their daily life.
“The executive, at all levels, should strengthen existing building codes and enforce them to guarantee accessibility for PWDs during and beyond elections.
“National and State Assemblies
The National Assembly should ensure that the executive implements specific sections of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Act 2018 through effective legislative oversight.
“The National Assembly should also perform its oversight functions of INEC to ensure that all measures for accessibility are implemented in line with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Act 2018.”
On the security agencies, the group called on the police and other security agencies to develop a special protocol to protect voters and observers with disabilities during elections.
“We also call on the police and other security agencies to ensure that whenever these protocols are developed, their personnel are well trained to implement these provisions.”
According to the group, the Media should make deliberate efforts to conduct voter education that compliments the efforts of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities in promoting the participation of PWDs in Nigeria’s electoral and political processes.
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