Benue Disability Community Laments Disenfranchisement During Elections

Persons living with disability in Benue State have expressed outrage over their disenfranchisement during the 2023 general elections. Despite significant investments by the federal government aimed at ensuring their inclusion in the electoral process.

Their leader, Jacintha Igwilo, made the remarks during a town hall meeting on electoral reforms organised by Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) in Makurdi. She described INEC’s action as discriminatory even as she called for a change in subsequent elections.

According to her, “as a person with disability I decided to take the bull by the horn to go round as elections were going on, in some Polling units in Makurdi metropolis to check and ensure that our people are being taken care of, by having everything they needed to aid them to vote for candidates of their choice but I discovered that our people were stranded, nothing was provided.

“To my disappointment, all the polling units I visited, there were no magnifying glasses for persons with Albinism no Brail for the Blind, no sign language interpreter for the Deaf and the places were not even accessible for the physically challenged persons.

“I believe that this Townhall meeting with stakeholders on electoral reforms will help in addressing some of this challenges, especially those concerning the vulnerabie group even as she commended the organizers of the meeting describing the timing as apt

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Comrade Igwilo who is the Chairman of Albinism, Benue State chapter also disclosed that as one of the agent in one of the Polling units in Makurdi metropolis she is shocked beyond measures that up till this moment she has not been paid her stipend which also shows discrimination of disability persons.

” I am appealing for the inclusion of persons with disabilities at the Local, State and Federal Government during the planning stage for every election to enable us have a voice for our people in the next election”

” I believe that by working together with the disability community, civil society organizations, all vulnerable groups like the age, pregnant women and the Media will help in promoting a more transparent and accountable electoral process, ultimately strengthening Nigeria’s democracy”she added.

In a welcome address, the executive director PAACA Ezenwa Nwagwu said, the aim of the meeting is to foster inclusive dialogue among Citizens from varying backgrounds concerning electoral reform and Constitutional amendment.

According to him, ‘this will help in enhancing public understanding and awareness regarding electoral reform, after which the organization will compile and present Citizen-derived recommendations to the National Assembly and INEC for consideration.

Benue State resident electoral commissioner Sam. Egwu advised those agitating for electoral reforms not to think that all problems can be solved through Electoral reform because you can have a good Law, but it will still require good managers, if the people who are managing our elections are not people of integrity, the best electoral Law cannot guarantee the best election.”

Prof. Egwu said, “I want to commend the organizers of this Town hall meeting on electoral reforms. Though it is good to focus on the Legal and Constitutional framework, I want to advise here that we should be more focused on human agency because, for me, that is the game changer.”