The Inclusive Friends Association, IFA has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for successfully conducting the Ondo Governorship Election on Saturday, especially for voters with disabilities.
IFA, in a statement released, noted the aspects the commission improved upon compared with the September 19 election in Edo, while also noting some grey areas that must be addressed in subsequent elections.
The group, an organisation with ardent concern on inclusion of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in democratic issues said it deployed a team of trained observers across the 18 Local Government Areas of the State, while other members of the team roved several Polling Units (PU) within the state capital.
The group said observers were required to serve as stationary at the LGAs as they observe the entire election day process but, with due diligence on assistive materials for PWDs as assured by INEC as they observe all other basic process issues.
Listing it’s findings, the group observed that Braille Ballot Guide (BBG) was deployed to most of the polling units (PU) to enable voters who were visually impaired cast their votes for candidates of their choice independently.
It also noted that some other PU visited however did not have the BBG.
According to the statement, the Yiaga Africa report captured that, the Braille ballot guide was present in 59 percent of sampled PUs.
“An explanation provided by some Presiding Officers however proved that, INEC had used the Data for inclusion submitted to them by Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) in the distribution of the BBG and other assistive materials, IFA said.
On the turn out of voters, the group reported that a high number of the polling units it visited showed clearly the impact of various voter education it conducted and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as there was high voter turnout of voters who were PWDs, young men and women, the aged, nursing mothers expressing their eagerness to cast their votes for the candidate of their choice.
It also observed the impact of various advocacies to INEC to be impactful as a high number of PUs across the state enjoyed adequate logistics arrangement which the group said was impressive and commendable.
“Kits and non-sensitive materials were properly arranged. At least, a considerable number of INEC officials and voting materials got to most polling units visited early and reports across the state indicated that the average PUs commenced at 8:30am,” the group added.
But it noted that most of the PU were still not accessible for PWDs as polling officials still had their set up on the pavement at most locations in Akure South but few PUs were set up on a flat ground.
IFA also observed that most PUs located in front of a residential building had issues of accessibility.
On priority for PWDs during the voting process, the group reported a high level in this regard while commending INEC for it.
“This attitude was said to have started after the early rains. At the Ago Ireti settlement, there were quite large turnout of PWDs voters, PU code 001 likewise at Akure South Ward 4 unit 14 where we had large number of deaf voters cast their votes and Priority voting was given to PWD. However, voters revoked to priority voting system at PU 28/06/04/014 Oke-Ijebo Osikot Akinjos,” the statement noted.
IFA also reported that in most PU visited, only few had the magnifying glasses which is required to assist voters who have albinism or visually impaired to vote without assistance.
It also regretted that the instruction day poster was practically missing in most PUs visited by IFA in Akure South but present at Akoko North East, PU 007.
However, PU 28/06/04/014 Oke-Ijebo Osikot Akinjos and 28/06/04/011, IFA said, were highly populated with deaf voters who eventually were able to cast their votes upon arranging their own sign language interpreter.
“As the form required to assist deaf voters understand voting process in the absence of a sign language interpreters was not available. However, PWD posters Form EC 30E were present in 90% of polling units according to the Yiaga Africa’s report. This report depicts the usability of PWDs data submitted to INEC by Inclusive Friends Association which made deployment of assistive materials apt.
“IFA observed that form EC40H was available at all PUs visited by our observers and the usability was quite very impressive at PU that PWDs visited to cast their votes as details of PWDs were captured.
“Reports from voters with disabilities had it that, they requested for forms after casting their votes at their various PUs and they had their disability status recorded on the form. This form is use to capture data of PWDs in other to assist INEC’s deployment for PWDs in future elections and enhancing its database,” the group said.
The groups also reported a good presence of security officials at every PU visited, adding that the officers conducted themselves very professionally thereby providing confidence for PWDs in casting their votes.
It summarily commended INEC for the improvements to aid the voting process for PWD, while also urging the Commission to make efforts to address a few challenges going forward.
“INEC deserve commendation for the improvements recorded thus far in areas such as, the provision of braille for voters with visual impairment, training of polling officials in managing the electoral process especially engaging PWDs as part of the ad-hoc staff.
“PU28/06/04/011 Oke-Ijebo had PWDs as part of their ad-hoc staff this is a good initiative of inclusion in the area of employment.
“However, the commission should make efforts to address the challenges identified above and especially, make efforts to engage relevant government agencies in providing concrete slabs to ensure accessibility for PUs located in front of residential buildings due to the existing gutter challenges or better still change PUs to more accessible ones,” the statement concluded.