Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) has pledged to give priority attention to persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the September 28 local government election in the State.
ANSIEC made the pledge, weekend, while addressing members of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra State Chapter, during their quarterly general meeting in Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.
Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, the JONAPWD State chairman, had during his presentation, urged ANSIEC to remove barriers that hinder his members’ active participation in voting and other electoral processes in the state.
He condemned the practice of placing ballot boxes where it will be difficult to access by persons with physical disabilities. He also expressed the need to stop the incessant harassment of persons helping PWDs with means of transportation on an election day by security agents.
Okeke maintained that in every democratic setting, the essence of holding elections is to give a voice to every citizen and ensure that diverse perspectives are represented.
He listed actions like making polling stations and election materials accessible, conducting awareness campaigns, consulting organisations representing PWDs, providing training and support to electoral staff, and encouraging representation of persons with disabilities in political offices as ways to ensure the inclusion of PWDs in the election.
The chairman also advocated for the implementation of measures to support the full integration of PWDs into the democratic system, citing the importance of their voices and perspectives in decision-making processes.
Responding, the representatives of ANSIEC, Emeka Okeke, in charge of Research and Publications; and Patience Ikeagu, Director of Logistics, said the commission is committed to ensuring that PWDs have equal access to the electoral process and are able to exercise their voting rights without any barriers.
“We have the interest of the PWDs at heart because that somebody is physically challenged does not mean he or she cannot contribute to decision-making in the society.
“For the election, we have planned to ensure that voting materials are accessible. We have also agreed in our meetings that both the pregnant and nursing mothers as well as the physically challenged would have a special line and must first be allowed to cast their votes at every polling unit.
“We have not planned to marginalise anybody and our intention is to ensure PWDs participate fully now, even if they had never participated before.
“We have also given out instructions that anybody with physical disability whose name is on the voter register should be allowed to vote. They will be given priority attention,” the duo said.
