A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Josephat Ubanyionwu, and his legal team have reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the electoral rights of persons with disabilities during and after the just-concluded Anambra State governorship election.
Ahead of the polls held last Saturday, Professor Ubanyionwu and his legal team met with the Chairman of the Anambra State Disability Rights Commission, Chuks Ezewuzie Esq, at the Commission’s headquarters to discuss legal measures for defending persons with disabilities whose rights might be infringed. The legal team received case files and was briefed to provide free legal representation in such cases.
The move was part of efforts to ensure full compliance with the Anambra State Disability Rights Law 2018 and the Federal Disability Discrimination (Prohibition) Act of 2018. Professor Ubanyionwu was among the twelve lawyers earlier briefed in Abuja on the legal rights of persons with disabilities in a session facilitated by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) programme — an initiative of the European Union implemented in Nigeria by the International IDEA — and organized by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).
Chairman of the Commission, Chuks Ezewuzie, commended the learned Silk for his continued support and pro bono legal service to the disability community. He urged other lawyers to assist the ROLAC-supported legal department of the Commission and encouraged persons with disabilities to report all cases of discrimination and rights violations. Ezewuzie noted that ROLAC has made funds available to support victims and witnesses during court proceedings.
INN reports that, Chukwuma Soludo, candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) emerged the winner of the Anambra State governorship election, following the announcement of results from all 21 local government areas (LGAs) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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