One hundred and fifty observers will be deployed to all polling units across Ekiti State for the June 20 off-cycle governorship election to monitor how Persons with Disabilities are treated at voting points.
Assistant Programme Manager of a non Governmental organization TAF Africa, Mr. George Dominic, disclosed this in Otun Ekiti during the _Able2Vote Community Outreach for Persons with Disabilities, a programme organised with the support from the European Union.
Mr. Dominic said the deployment would help verify that all provisions made by the Independent National Electoral Commission for PWDs are in place.which includes checking that necessary materials and facilities are available to make voting easier for persons with disabilities.
He explained that the engagement was aimed at creating awareness on how PWDs could exercise their voting rights as the goal is to ensure that no person with a disability is disenfranchised or left behind on election day.
According to him, TAF Africa is working to ensure that PWDs are recognized as equal citizens, urging them to stand firm by not allowing anyone to make them feel less important.
Mr. Dominic reminded participants that they have the constitutional right to vote and to be elected citing Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno, a person with albinism, and Adamawa State House of Assembly Speaker Mr. Bathiya Wesley, an amputee, as examples of PWDs in leadership positions.
As contained in the mission statement of TAF Africa, signed by the Founder/CEO, Amb. Jake Epelle, he said the community outreach of TAF, adopted a participatory and inclusive approach, through town hall meetings and grassroots engagements, involving Persons with Disabilities, community leaders, religious leaders, and other local stakeholders.
Also speaking at the event, TAF Africa’s Information Technology Officer, Mr. Jachimike Odibo, said the organisation has developed an application to monitor and track violations of PWD rights during elections.
He said the app through the link “https://tafafrica.co/our-work/taf-disability-hub/” will enable quick reporting of incidents for immediate action.
Mr. Odibo noted that the discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act and the Electoral law protect the rights of the group and support them to participate fully in the electoral process, appealing to them to come out and exercise those rights during election.
He advised PWDs to arrive early at polling units on election day, adding that INEC maintains a database of persons with disabilities and that adhoc staff have been instructed to give them priority at voting points.
Earlier in a remark, Moba Local Government Chairman Mr. Bamidele Fadogba urged PWDs not to limit themselves because of their conditions but to go out and vote wisely for candidates of their choice on election day.
Some participants, including Mr. Adebayo Taiwo, Mr Segun Olaosebikan and Mr Wale Olalere, called for separate polling units for PWDs noting that in past elections they were turned away on the grounds that PWDs were not entitled to vote.
