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Disability Group Commends INEC for According Vulnerable Nigerians Priority Furing the Governorship Polls.



By Fabian Anawo

The Campaign for Equal Voting Access for Persons with Disabilities (EVAPWD), has commended INEC for giving priority to Persons with Disabilities, PWD, the aged, nursing mothers and pregnant women in the just concluded Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections nationwide.

It also gave the thumbs up to the Electoral body for opening up the polls by eight o clock in the morning.

The group said that it monitored the election in the six geopolitical zones and observed that significant Polling Units monitored were accessible to persons with physical disabilities.

Some of such Polling Units includes
Polling Unit 11, ward 3, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Polling Unit 005, Mafoluku Ward, Oshodi Isolo, Lagos State, Polling 20, ward 9, Udim LGA, Akwa Ibom State, Polling Unit 010, Igbere Ward B, Bende LGA, Abia State were accessible to physically challenged voters. Observation shows that INEC placed a significant number of PUs open fields and ballot boxes on the floor for those on wheelchairs and other clusters of disabilities.

In a statement by the Executive Director of the group, Mr. David Anyaele said that the polling units were mostly located in open fields and the ballot boxes placed on the floor for those on wheelchairs and other clusters of disabilities.

However, it notes that physically challenged voters struggled to access a significant number of Polling Units visited.

These include: Polling Unit 005, Mafoluku Ward, Oshodi Isolo, Lagos State, Polling Unit 006, Ekwulobia Ward 2, Aguata, Anambra State, Polling Unit 004, Oye Market Square Ward, Akwa South, Anambra State, Polling Unit 003, ward 3, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. Polling unit 003, ward , Ikot Ekpene LGA, Akwa Ibom State, Polling Unit 34, S/Mafara Ward, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State were examples of Polling Units that were not accessible to persons with disabilities. The Polling Units were sited on high pavements, the cubicles were not accessible to PWDs and the ballot boxes were placed on high tables and platforms. What this means is that voters with physical disability would be discouraged to go to this hard to access environment to cast their votes.

The statement says that the Polling Units were sited on high pavements, the cubicles were not accessible to PWDs and the ballot boxes were placed on high tables and platforms.

EVA4PWD observed scanty deployment of Braille guides in Polling Unit 017, Ajao Estate Lagos State, Bold Signages and directional guides for the deaf in polling unit 003, Ward 3, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. There were no assistive devices observed in the majority of Polling Units visited. This was evidenced in Polling Unit 002 Kundulun Yelwa Kamo Ward, Kaltungo LGA, Gombe State, Polling unit 013, Rimin Auzinawa Ward Kano Central, Kano State, Polling Unit 60, Ward 10, Sabon Gari, Kano State.

The statement expressed disappointed with the level of security.

It says that there were no security operatives available in some polling units particularly; polling unit 13, Sabo Ward, Ojo LGA, Lagos State, polling unit15, Mashi Gwari Ward, Igabi, Kaduna State.

Also, the group observed that there were high level of threats and suppression of voters in Polling 68, ward 12, Nkpolu, Rivers State, Polling units 12, 17, 18 and 19 Phalga, Port Harcourt, Rivers State and across Amawo Odofin Areas of Lagos State.

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