Persons with disabilities in Ekiti State have called on government and relevant authorities to address the various barriers limiting their participation in electoral processes.
This is the bases of an advocacy visit by a Non Governmental Organization, Inclusive Friends Association to various organizations in the state including INEC, NUJ and Ekiti State Police Command.
Speaking at the NUJ Secretariat, programme manager of the organization, Oluwaseyi Moses highlighted some of the challenges faced by PWDs to include the absence of handrails and ramps at pooling units, the absence of PWD disaggregated data on Nigeria’s voters’ register, and the unavailability of assistive materials such as the braille ballot guide, magnifying glasses, and Election Day instructional materials.
He observed that there was low reporting on PWDs issues by media houses, especially during an election period hence the need for the partnership with NUJ to address the issue.
Aso the Executive Officer of IFA, Grace Jerry who spoke through Trace Onabis requested an increase in reporting and prioritizing of PWDs matters by media houses
She also called on media houses to delegate specific officers dedicated to PWD matters and endeavour to always interface more with organizations of the person with disabilities (OPWDs.
The group had earlier at the Ekiti State Police Command requested adequate security for PWDs during the election.
Respinding, the Ekiti State Deputy Commissoner for Police, DCP John Ayuba Babangida, representing the CP, Tunde Mobayo said that the current man power shortage in Nigeria Police Force may not enable the State Chapter to assign Officers to guard People With Disabilities(PWD) in the forthcoming Ekiti June 18 Gubernatorial election.
Babangida stated that the current Strength of the Force makes it a herculean task to assure the Organisation of assigning Police Officers to each Polling Unit in all Local Governments of the State to protect PWD during the Election.
“There is man power shortage in Police in Ekiti, not even in Ekiti alone, the entire Country. So, the present Strength may not be enough to assign Officers to each Polling Unit.
Nigeria Police Force only have one role during Elections as directed by INEC which is to maintain law and order”
However, he assured them that NPF, Ekiti Chapter will make sure that PWD will be rendered adequate protection as Team Leaders in the Force, currently undergo training organised by INEC, for the safety of all.