Equal Voting Access for Persons with Disabilities (EVAPWD), a programme of the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), has commended Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Polling Units Official for offering priority voting to vulnerable groups, the aged, nursing mothers and pregnant women and persons with disabilities as a large number of Polling Units were seen provided priority voting to vulnerable groups across the three Senatorial Zones at the October 10, 2020 Ondo State Governorship Election 2020 in Akure.
EVAPWD also commended the good people of Ondo State for coming out enmasse to choose the Governor of their choice.
In a statement sent to Inclusive News Network, INN, the Chairman, David Anyaele lamented that a large number of the polling units were not accessible to persons with Disabilities.
He stated that a voter with physical Disability was unable to access the voting cubicle at Polling Unit 14, Ward 10, Akure South LGA. He added that other observed inaccessible polling units that were PU 003, Ward 011 LA II Primary School Lisaliwa, PU 025 Ward 07; PU 022 Ward 007; PU 023 Ward 007 & PU 027 Ward 007 Ondo West LGA. These PUs were totally not accessible for PWDs having multiple barriers, from stones, gutters & sand.
“We observed that Braille jackets were not deployed in all the Polling Units as Braille Jackets were seen in Polling Units (PU005, Ward 003, PU, 036 Ward 002, PU 014, Ward 010, PU, 002, Ward 002, Akure South LGA). Also, other polling units that had no Braille Jacket are (PU 001, Ward 6 Gboni, PU, 31, Ward 002, PU 29, Ward 002, Isikan, Akure South LGA).”
Mr. Anyaele expressed dissatisfied over the non-availability of magnifying lenses at the Polling Units observed. “This shows that persons with sight impairment like persons with albinism were exposed to difficulties as a result of absence of magnifying lenses at the Polling Units.” Anyaele asserted.
“We also observed that significant number of Polling Units had Election Day instructional materials posted on the Polling Units. However, no Sign Language Interpreter was sighted at the Polling Units observed. As persons with hearing impairment struggled to benefit from priority voting at the Polls,” Mr. Anyaele observed further.
“Observance of INEC Covid-19 guidelines were not adhered to. There was no form of social distancing as most of the PU’s were crowded. All the same, there were hand sanitizers in all the PU and INEC staff were found putting on their facemasks.”
With the observations stated above, Anyaele expressed concern over the use of charity based approach on persons with Disabilities participation in the electoral process.
He observed that INEC is struggling to implement it’s framework on access and participation of persons with Disabilities in the electoral process and the discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (prohibition) Act 2018.
“We urge INEC to take appropriate measures to review its processes and approach concerning persons with disabilities participation in the electoral process. If persons with disabilities cannot vote during elections, it would be difficult for them to demand to be voted for, as the inaccessible electoral process is equal to exclusion.” He said.