REC Vows “Not Business as Usual”; Police, NSCDC Assure PWDs of Protection and Priority Voting
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to a disability-inclusive gubernatorial election in Anambra State, announcing the deployment of braille ballots, magnifying glasses, and sign language interpreters to aid Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra, Dr. Elizabeth Agwu, gave the assurance at a stakeholders’ engagement on election preparedness in Awka, organized by the NGO TAF AFRICA.
Dr. Agwu stated that the Commission is working to ensure PWDs participate not only as voters but also as electoral officials.
She disclosed that 5,720 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines have been configured for polling units, with an additional 1,000 units on standby as backup.
“There will be no hitches. We have not had hitches in Anambra because we have alternative networks and backups,” Dr. Agwu stated, adding, “I am not under any pressure to deliver anybody. Under me, it is not business as usual.”
Identifying voter apathy as the biggest threat to the election, the REC urged residents to come out and vote, warning that “not voting is encouraging the wrong person to win.”
Echoing INEC’s commitment, the Chief Executive Officer of TAF AFRICA, Ambassador Jake Epelle, revealed that the organization will deploy 150 PWDs as observers and 25 sign language interpreters for the November 18 election.
He reminded officials that PWDs have a legal right to priority voting and urged INEC to “walk the talk” on its inclusivity promises.
On security, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga, said the command is training personnel to give special attention to PWDs.
He advised voters to move to their polling areas before election day due to movement restrictions.
Similarly, the NSCDC’s Mr. Edwin Okadigbo stated that the command had activated its PWD desk officer to ensure this demographic is not “intimidated, discriminated against, or disenfranchised.”
The Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Anambra, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, commended INEC’s efforts but appealed to the media to provide accurate information to counter fake news.
Reporting by Uche Ndeke