By Oni Femi, INN reporter, Ekiti State
Ahead of the 2022 gubernatorial election in Osun State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured of efficient and accessible polling units for People With Disabilities (PWDs) during the election.
The Osun State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Professor Abdulganiyu Olayinka Raji made this known in a one-day dialogue session organized by a coalition of over 80 human rights organizations under the aegis of Nigeria Civil Society situation room on Thursday, 30th June, 2022 in Abuja.
Raji reiterated the State INEC’s preparedness for a fair and credible Governorship Election come July 16, 2022.
He said that 753 voting points in Osun State had been converted to polling units. These were added to the previous 3010 polling units, so we now have a total of 3,763 polling units .
In his speech delivered via zoom, the Osun REC put the total number of registered voters at 1,955,657. Meanwhile some 1.4m voters have their PVCs. A total of 335, 298 new PVCs were delivered in 2022.
Prof Abdulganiyu also explained that INEC has made all the polling units accessible for vulnerable persons and PWDs.
Also, in a review of the recently concluded Ekiti State Governorship Election 2022, some observers offered insights that could help Osun State carry out an even more credible election.
Mr. Owolabi Kayode, the Ekiti State JONAPWD Chairman, while thanking Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room for calling for the dialogue, urged Osun State INEC to sensitize its adhoc staff members and security agents to be fair to PWDs.
He charges INEC to avoid a repeat in Osun State of the condemnable incident where a visually impaired voter was molested during the Ekiti State election.
The Convener, Situation Room, Ene Obi appreciated PWDs for their supports before, during and after the electoral processes.
She urged Osun State to emulate Ekiti by engaging in election without violence.
Present at the event were Civil Society organizations, Security Agencies, INEC adhoc staff members, etc.
The group, Disability Not A Barrier Initiative (DINABI) and the Ekiti State Joint Association Of Persons With Disabilities, JONAPWD were also at the dialogue session.