- Disenfranchisement Worse Than Corruption, PWDs Lament
…As 25 Million Nigerians Live With Disabilities
By ‘Dotun Akintomide
To give equal participation to Persons With Disabilities (PWD) in electoral process in accordance with tenets of the Nigerian constitution and UN Charter on human rights, the International Press Centre (IPC) alongside other collaborators have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fastrack the process of implementing the newly launched PWDs Charter on elections ahead of 2019.
According to them, the move became necessary as 25 millions Nigerians living with disabilities have over the years suffered electoral disenfranchisement with no regard to their citizenship rights due to poor management of political process and voting day machinery in Nigeria.
Also, it was gathered at the public presentation of PWD Charter on elections organized by IPC in Lagos that of the 25 million disabled Nigerians, 3.5 million of the figure (perhaps the population of 3 nations combined in Africa) suffer severe disabilities that render them almost incapacitated on election day.
Considering their demographic advantage, it has also been argued that if persons living with disabilities decide to vote a particular candidate without splitting votes, their number has become so important that they can unilaterally elect a President.
To this end, the Charter recommended the inclusion of all PWDs’ clusters in the electoral process. The PWDs’ clusters include women with disabilities; people with physical challenges and people with albinism.
Others are people with visual impairment; people with leprosy cases as well as persons with hearing impairment.
Highlighting the key challenges limiting PWDs’ participation in election, Dr. Dele Seteolu of the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University said the PWDs’ Charter seeks to expand opportunities for mainstreaming all clusters of PWDs into all aspects of the electoral process.
“Principles require governments, individuals organizations treat all persons with disabilities with respect for their inherent dignity and to ensure that their disabilities do not restrict their full participation in society,” he added.
Condemning the brazen neglect by the government to address the plights of PWDs in elections, a Representative of PWDs’ clusters (Albinism), Mr. Ohi Daniel lamented that disenfranchisement is worse than corruption. “If people are not allowed to elect their own leaders and have a say in how they’re being governed that means they’ve been robbed.”
Addressing participants, the Director, IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade urged political parties, civil societies and INEC to wholesomely push for equal participation of PWDs in elections alongside other citizens of the country.
Arogundade also lauded ACTIONAID Nigeria for working towards the inclusion of PWDs in the country’s electioneering process through its Strengthening Citizens Engagement in Electoral Process (SCEEP) project as being implemented in Lagos by IPC.
Earlier, Lagos State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Waheed Ishola tasked PWDs to begin to take their destiny into their hands by ensuring full participation in voter’s registration exercise so as to be eligible for voting on election day. “Disability is not the end of the world,” he said.
While expressing INEC’s readiness to address the challenges faced by PWDs, the Assistant Director, INEC Lagos office, Mr. Akinbiyi Olufemi commended IPC for presenting the PWDs’ Charter aimed at strengthening electoral participation.
As 2019 general elections beckon, he said, “the electoral law has been amended to allow PWDs take along trusted confidants to the voting cubicles for guidance.”
He promised that INEC will not relent in giving all the needed aids and attention to PWDs in the country.
