NGO bemoans non-provision of aid devices for PWDs

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), with concerns for electoral inclusion for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), TAF Africa, on Saturday bemoaned the non availability devices that could aid PWDs in the Edo State governorship election.

TAF Africa, at a press conference held to assess the election on Saturday afternoon, maintained that the inclusion of PWDs in the electoral process was a critical aspect of achieving true democratic participation.

Jake Epelle, the Chief Executive Officer, TAF Africa, while speaking at the press conference, said that the group’s “observers noted with concern that although the written instructions for the deaf (form EC 30E PWD) were deployed across all observed polling units., other critical assistive tools, such as Braille ballot guides for the blind and magnifying glasses for persons with albinism, were absent in several locations, including centres with registered voters requiring such aids.

“For instance, at Olua Primary School, Uselu I-VI, PU 008, a blind voter could not cast his vote independently due to the absence of a Braille ballot guide, with polling officials confirming that they were not provided with any.

“Before the commencement of the Edo State governorship election and in line with our mandate to promote inclusivity in Nigeria’s electoral processes, TAF Africa deployed 20 stationary citizen observers and 5 roving media observers to select polling units across Edo State for the 2024 Governorship Election. The observers were deployed to polling units with registered voters with disabilities to observe and report voting experience, and the provision of assistive tools as mandated by the Electoral Act.

“The inclusion of persons with disabilities in the electoral process is a critical aspect of achieving true democratic participation. Section 54 of the Electoral Act, Sub-sections 1 and 2, explicitly require the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide assistive tools such as Braille ballot guides for the blind, magnifying glasses for persons with albinism, and written instructions (form EC 30E PWD) for the deaf to ensure their effective participation in the electoral process. INEC is also required to prioritize voting for persons with disabilities to enhance their experience at polling stations,” he stated.

It also observed that the downpour during the election impacted negatively, voters’ turnout, accreditation and the voting process, saying: “A heavy downpour in the early hours of the day, and its persistence throughout the morning, significantly affected voter turnout at many polling units. This was particularly noticeable among voters with disabilities, whose movement and access to polling units were impeded by the poor weather conditions. The rain also caused delays in the commencement of accreditation and voting in several polling units, as confirmed by INEC ad-hoc staff. These delays further discouraged the turnout of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, who often face additional logistical challenges in accessing polling stations.

The group, however, gave credit to the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC), for giving priority to PWDs, saying that “INEC ad-hoc staff had been briefed on the priority voting rights of persons with disabilities. PWDs were generally accorded priority access at the polling units visited.”

TAF Africa therefore recommended that “INEC must urgently provide the necessary assistive tools, including Braille ballot guides and magnifying glasses, to all polling units with registered PWD voters before the close of voting today. This is because ensuring that persons with disabilities can vote independently is critical to upholding their right to participate in the democratic process.”

In addition, it called for a continuous training and sensitisation of election officials, “While the awareness of priority voting rights was commendable, it is imperative that INEC intensifies the training and sensitization of both permanent and ad-hoc staff on the needs of PWD voters. Such training should emphasize the importance of making polling units more accessible and the provision of all necessary assistive tools.

“INEC should enhance communication and support systems to allow voters with disabilities to report any issues they encounter in real time. The availability of these channels would enable immediate corrective measures to be taken and ensure that such incidents are properly documented for future improvement.

“TAF Africa remains committed to supporting the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in Nigeria’s electoral processes. We will continue to observe the election as it progresses and provide updates on the experiences of voters with disabilities. We urge INEC to uphold its commitment to inclusivity and ensure that all voters are given the opportunity to participate in today’s election without barriers,” Epelle reaffirmed.

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