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To ensure inclusive Governorship elections for Persons with Disabilities in Ekiti State, preparations are in top gear, Inclusive Friends Association, IFA, has met with State focal persons in Ekiti State on the Access Nigeria project.
One of the aims of the project is to ensure persons with disabilities are included in all three stages of election viz: Pre-Election, Election Day, and Post-Election stages, on an equal basis.
Speaking at the planning and implementation meeting held on Monday at Ado-Ekiti, Mr. Moses Oluwaseyi, the Program Manager, Access Nigeria project who spoke on behalf of the Executive Director of IFA, Grace Jerry, welcomed the participants while introducing the organization and project.
Moses remarked that the objective of the meeting is to familiarize state focal persons with the new Access Nigeria Project Work plan while also highlighting the responsibilities of the focal persons towards the success of the project. He also noted that the meeting is intended to facilitate the signing of SFP Terms of Reference.
The Program Officer, National Democratic Institute (NDI) Osarodion Judith gave a goodwill message on behalf of NDI. She reiterated the importance of inclusion and accessibility of the political and electoral environment and materials as the necessary prerequisites to free and fair electoral processes.
Molly Joshua, a Program Officer for Inclusive Friends Association gave an overview of the Access Nigeria Project at the event.
He said amongst other things, the project is aimed at ensuring Persons with Disabilities are included in all three stages of the election on an equal basis.
According to him, the project shall seek to get the commitment of duty bearers and stakeholders in ensuring accessibility, inclusion, and participation of Persons with Disabilities are guaranteed.
Furthermore, the goal of the project is to improve the participation of PWDs in the Nigerian political and electoral processes, alongside their full participation in governance and society.
Chairman of JONAPWD in Ekiti State, Mr. Kayode Owolabi, and the General Secretary, Mr. Olajide Funso who is also the founder of DINABI Nigeria made a separate commitment on behalf of Persons with Disabilities to take ownership of the project in order to ensure their full participation and inclusion in the electoral process of the forthcoming Ekiti gubernatorial election.
Key discussions at the meeting centered on the 2022 Ekiti Governorship election and its Political and Security Implications for PWDs; Prospects and Challenges of conducting PWD-Targeted Voter Education and Get Out The Vote (GOTV) in Ekiti State; Roles and Responsibilities of SFPs and Cluster Heads.
Participants included Chairman and Secretary of JONAPWD, Heads of Clusters of PWDs, and INEC Desk Officers of the State.