By Ogunbayo Oluwaseyi (INN), Ogun
Ogun State residents with disability have lamented the unfavorable conditions encountered at polling units while trying to cast their votes at the just concluded 2023 general elections.
Inclusive News Network, while monitoring the elections, interacted with a Person with Disability who had come out to perform his civil responsibility.
Mr Olufemi Adeosun shared his experience at Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area, Ward 1 polling unit 001 with us.
Adeosun who is the Ogun State Chapter of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, JONAPWD, Secretary General served as an election observer during the presidential and governorship polls.
He laments how “the polling Units were inaccessible to wheelchair users, among other disability types”. He further expressed unhappiness over unavailability of EC40H forms at some Polling units.
Adeosun however commended INEC for giving prompt attention to Persons with Disability at the polls.
According to him, “I had to contact Mr Donald Dansu, the INEC Disability desk officer in Ogun State whenever a PWD faced challenges at the Polling Unit for prompt intervention.”
The Secretary also commended INEC for providing sign language interpreters to bridge communication gap for Deaf persons at the State collation centre, Magbon, Abeokuta where results of the polls were announced.
He however pleaded to have Sign language interpreters available at all INEC Local Government collation centers and polling units with large concentrations of Deaf people.