The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) has congratulated the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Muhammad Abba Isa, on his appointment as Director of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Mobilisation for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Abdullahi Aliyu Usman, the association described the appointment as a significant recognition of the leadership capacity, competence and contributions of persons with disabilities to Nigeria’s political development. JONAPWD commended the APC leadership for entrusting Abba Isa with the role, noting that it would strengthen the participation and representation of persons with disabilities in the country’s political process.
The association observed that the appointment holds special significance because Abba Isa is a person with a disability who has consistently championed disability rights, policy reforms and inclusive governance. According to JONAPWD, his lived experience provides him with a unique understanding of the challenges, aspirations and diverse needs of persons with disabilities across the country.
JONAPWD also recalled Abba Isa’s appointment as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities in 2023, describing it as a milestone that brought disability issues closer to the centre of government. The association expressed confidence that his new responsibility would further provide a platform to advance political inclusion and mobilise greater participation of persons with disabilities in democratic processes.
While congratulating Abba Isa and the APC, JONAPWD urged other political parties to create meaningful opportunities for qualified persons with disabilities within their leadership, campaign and decision-making structures. It stressed that genuine political inclusion should extend beyond campaign participation to leadership, policy formulation and governance.
The association further encouraged persons with disabilities across Nigeria to actively engage in the democratic process and continue advocating for equal opportunities and inclusive governance. It wished Abba Isa success in his new assignment, expressing optimism that his experience in advocacy and public service would promote greater political representation and inclusion for persons with disabilities as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.