INEC Urged To Work With PWDs For Access To Polling Units

The Executive Director, Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), Grace Jerry, has called on INEC to continue to engage and consult with the community of persons with disability, IFA, and other organizations of persons with disabilities to identify areas to be improved for more inclusive and accessible electoral processes.
He said lNEC should as well work closely with IFA, and other organizations of persons with disabilities to harvest and update the data of PWD voters, that INEC should make intentional steps to ensure that qualified PWDs are employed as staff and adhoc staff members.
Jerry, who said this at a press conference in Benin City, ahead of the governorship election, urged INEC officials to be well-trained on these assistive materials, and on how to administer them correctly on Election Day.
He said, “As we look forward to the Edo off-cycle governorship election, IFA emphasizes the need for strict compliance with Nigeria’s Electoral Act, by ensuring the following: Polling units should be made accessible for Persons with Disabilities using flat surface venues.
“INEC should mandate Polling Officials to fill PWD Form EC 40H as this will provide invaluable data for INEC and in the long run, help it plan better and save costs.
“The election procedures should ensure priority voting is made available to persons with disabilities to vote upon immediate arrival at the polling unit.
“The Braille ballot guide be made available and INEC should categorize the Braille ballot guide as sensitive material to ensure timely and effective deployment of same.
“There is a need for increased synergy between the commission and the security agencies.
“That INEC form EC 30E PWD Election Day written instructions should be posted in a visible location to enable persons with disabilities to understand what is required of them before voting.
“Ballot boxes should be positioned where it is easily accessible to voters with disabilities to allow them to independently cast their ballots.
“We urge INEC officials to be well-trained on these assistive materials and on how to administer them correctly on Election Day.
“We also call on the security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the NSCDC, to prioritize the safety of PWDs, ensuring that they are not subjected to any form of violence or intimidation.
“Ensure that PWDs are attended to first at polling units, as stipulated by the Electoral Act security agencies should be trained on how to interface with PWDs media.
“We appeal to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and media house executives to ensure that the participation of PWDs is accurately and prominently reported during the election period.
“Media coverage should also include sign language interpreters during result collation broadcasts, allowing deaf voters to follow the process,” he added.
The Executive Director, Network for the Advancement of People with Visible Disabilities (NAPVID), Melody Omosah, urged INEC and the security agencies should ensure PWDs are saved and protected before, during and after the election.
He said lNEC ad-hoc staff should ensure sensitive materials arrive early to the polling units that PWDs should have access to voting materials without any discrimination.
According to the Chairman of Joint National Association of Persons with Disability, Edo state, Ann Ojungo, said low engagement of Persons with Disabilities to serve as Ad-hoc Staff or Staff to the provision of Sec 29 of the Discrimination of Persons with Disability Prohibition Act 2019, which stipulate for at least 5% employability.
She said Edo State community of persons with Disabilities called on all persons with Disabilities to come out in large numbers to vote for the candidate of their choice.
She stated, “We urge everyone to maintain peace and refrain from any form of vote-buying or vote-selling, as these are crimes punishable by law.
“IFA remains committed to advocating for an inclusive, free, fair, and credible election in Edo State. We stand with the PWD community and all citizens in ensuring that their voices are heard and respected in the democratic process.”
The PRO of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Efosa Ogbebor, said they were ready for the election and will work with other security agencies to ensure they protect the PWDs to vote.
Festus Alenkhe, Chairman of the NUJ in Edo State, said the media was eager to give adequate publicity to PWDs. He said in doing this that “we all should be watchful considering the political violence that is going on in the state.”
Alenkhe’s stressed out the need of the vitality of the coverage of the election and stated that anything that happens on day of the election is news to the media.