The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it is committed to enhancing the participation of Persons With Disability in the nation’s political process.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Outreach and Partnership Committee (OPC), Prof. Kunle Ajayi, stated this at the Bridge Modular Training on Access and Participation of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral process for INEC disability desk officers organized in partnership with European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) in Lagos State.
Prof. Kunle while citing Section 54 (2) of the Electoral Act 2022 and other legal instruments, said they have been empowered to undertake reasonable steps to ensure that the PWDs, special needs, and vulnerable persons are given support at the polling place by the provision of assistive devices.
“I wish to reiterate the unwavering commitment of the Commission to PWDs sensitive actions, even as we have a Framework on Access and Participation of PWDs in the Electoral Process and have almost completed work on Disability Inclusive Guide, a tool for reference in mainstreaming disability issues in the electoral process, which will further firm up the Commission’s resolve on electoral inclusivity to serve PWDs commun
The Commission also has as one of its core values, the creation of a level playing field for all stakeholders to participate in, especially the marginalized groups, including the PWDs.
This BRIDGE Modular training is part of the Commission’s Strategic Plan of Action (SPA) designed to sharpen and enrich the working knowledge of our new Desk Officers, and refresh the memories of other officers with long experience at the Disability Desk of their responsibilities as frontline implementers of the Commission’s PWDs’ policies.”
Prof. Kunle further charged the participants to assist the commission in providing the necessary support to Persons With Disability at their disposal in order to meet the targeted audience.
“You are the leading contact points to provide strong support to the mainstreaming of disabilities’ issues into the electoral process in your various states, and to offer assistance to the capacity-building of election personnel for enhanced knowledge and response to PWDs’ matters during elections. This underscores the importance of the training, even more so, as the General Elections and stand-alone elections are upcoming.”
The five days training is aimed at building the capacity of Desk Officers with innovations and the changing dynamics on PWD electoral issues for a broader knowledge on issues on disability inclusion for effective coordination and implementation of the commission’s disability focal programs.
