250 PWD Observers To Monitor Elections–IFA

About 250 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) observers have been deployed to monitor the deployment of PWD assistive materials, usage of PWD voter assistive materials as well as the accessibility of the internal layout of polling units to PWDs, especially physically challenged persons.

The executive director of Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), a non-governmental organisation that deals with matters that pertain to the rights of PWDs and convener of the IFA Campaign, Miss Grace Jerry, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday.

Jerry who said the IFA through a movement known as ‘The Vote-Ability’, was campaigning for increased PWD participation in Nigeria’s political and electoral processes as well as to ensure the full implementation of the 2022 Electoral Act as amended.

While commending the Nigerian Electoral body for assuring PWDs of improved assistive electoral materials in compliance with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability(Prohibition) Act 2018 and the Electoral Act 2022(amended), the IFA boss revealed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has for the general elections, deployed 21, 165 magnifying glasses for persons with albinism, 8,117 Braille ballot for blind voters as well as 6,167 EC30E PWD posters, a pictorial election instrument for deaf voters and other electorates.

“In the general elections, the IFA Vote-Ability Campaign will deploy carefully recruited and trained PWDs observers who will be observing at their pre-assigned polling units and reporting to a data center through the use of technology in near real-time.

“The information provided will enable IFA to provide the electoral umpire with quick information where its intervention is required to ensure there are no PWDs disenfranchised from voting”. 250 PWDs observersare spread across various states to monitor and report proceedings”, she said.

While calling on the police and other stakeholders in the electoral process to ensure the provision of peaceful, accessible and credible elections, the activist also advised PWDs to take safety precautions by leaving voting places when they begin to sense any danger to their lives and call designated security numbers when safely out of danger.