Participants at the training programme on Thursday in Asaba
Mr Adeolu Kilanko, Programme Lead, TAF Africa, formerly known as the Albino Foundation, gave the charge in Asaba on Thursday at the commencement of a two-day training for PWDs.
Kilanko said the training was convened to ensure PWDs participate actively in the forthcoming local government election in Delta.
“As you are aware, the local government election in the state will be coming up on July 13, but we realised for persons with disabilities to be active members of the society, we need to carry them along.
“That is the reason we convened this meeting. We are here to sensitise them through our ‘ABLE2VOTE’ campaign,” he said.
Kilanko recalled that before the 2023 general elections, there was no data on PWDs as solicited by the organisation.
”We were able to get the data in the different areas of the country and this enabled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make little provisions for them.
”We saw a great improvement from what it was in the 2019 general election and we are hoping to build on that ahead of the upcoming local government election in Delta.
“We want to see how we can work with the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) to ensure persons with disabilities are carried along,” he said.
Kilanko disclosed that the training would also capture DSIEC, political parties and security agencies among others as stakeholders.
According to him, participants will be exposed to what the constitution has provided for and other relevant laws to ensure PWDs fit well into all electoral processes.
Kilanko assured that the organisation would continue to work with political parties at the national level to ensure that a particular quota was given to PWDs in the country.
He disclosed that the training was being supported by Disability Rights Fund, describing the fund as a major supporter of the project.
Meanwhile, TAF Africa, Corporate Service and Compliance Manager, Mr Uche Enyiocha, said the organisation focused on promoting the rights, recognition, well-being and support of individuals with disabilities.
“Our mission is to work with state and non-state actors and dignitaries, including persons with disabilities by fostering inclusiveness and empowerment through policy and legislative interventions education.
“Our organisation has been able to identify with political participation of persons with disabilities as a critical act of the effort towards their inclusion in our society.
“We have taken up this endeavour to see how we can get them to participate in the electoral process,” he said.
Enyiocha noted there had been great voter apathy within the communities, attributing it to neglect by the management of different electoral bodies at different levels and at different elections.
The South-South Coordinator of the Association of Blind Persons, Mr Nkem Ofili, identified discrimination and lack of access to election materials among others as challenges faced by PWDs in the country.
He appealed to governments at all levels to make necessary provisions that would enable PWDs to participate fully in electoral processes.
NAN
