By Adeyemi Adeleye
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its dedication to eradicating obstacles stopping Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) from collaborating totally within the 2027 basic elections in Lagos State.
Prof. Ayobami Salami, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Lagos State, stated this at a sensitisation programme involving PWDs, Electoral Officers (EOs) and Disability Desk Officers, on Monday in Lagos.
Salami, whose tackle was learn by the Administrative Secretary, Mrs Oluyemi Adeyemi-Showunmi, urged electoral officers to make sure unbiased voting for PWDs, stressing that inclusion required greater than bodily entry to polling items.
“Electoral inclusion goes beyond allowing persons with disabilities to enter a polling unit.
“It requires us to identify and remove barriers preventing them from registering, accessing electoral information and exercising their voting rights independently, safely and with dignity,” he stated.
He stated INEC would regularly assess its procedures, services, communication strategies and operational preparations to make sure eligible voters weren’t deprived by incapacity.
Salami described the programme as a chance to strengthen accessibility, promote efficient use of assistive gadgets and improve collaboration between INEC and the incapacity group.
He recommended the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Lagos State, for collaborating in choices affecting PWDs’ involvement within the democratic course of.
The REC stated INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, had reaffirmed the fee’s dedication to inclusive elections at a world press convention and nationwide stakeholders’ assembly on Oct. 6, marking 100 days to the 2027 basic elections.
He stated the fee had introduced focused interventions to enhance electoral entry for girls, younger folks and PWDs, together with Braille poll guides throughout the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside Braille-transcribed voter training supplies.
According to him,different measures embody EC30 PWD posters for deaf voters, magnifying glasses for visually impaired individuals and individuals with albinism, and authorized signal language interpreters in any respect state collation centres.
Salami urged INEC personnel to know these interventions, talk their functions successfully and make sure the acceptable deployment of gadgets to help their supposed customers.
He harassed that incapacity inclusion required coordinated motion throughout administrative, electoral operations, voter training, logistics and different related departments.
Salami added that each officer interacting with voters had a accountability to supply respectful, non-discriminatory help.
He urged the National Register of Voters contained 232,658 registered voters with disabilities throughout 10 classes, in response to data introduced by the fee’s chairman.
The classes embody individuals with albinism, bodily impairments, visible impairments, deafness, autism, cognitive or studying disabilities, little stature, Down syndrome, spinal wire accidents and different incapacity classes.
He stated the figures highlighted the necessity for electoral personnel to know the totally different necessities of PWDs relatively than undertake a uniform method to help.
According to Salami, visually impaired voters would possibly require Braille poll guides, whereas deaf voters may gain advantage from accessible written data or signal language interpretation.
He added that voters with low imaginative and prescient or albinism would possibly want visible help, whereas these with mobility impairments may encounter bodily obstacles at electoral services.
The REC urged Electoral Officers and Disability Desk Officers to familiarise themselves with voters’ wants, perceive obtainable assistive gadgets and ask PWDs about their most popular help relatively than make assumptions about their skills.
He warned that offering assistive gadgets alone wouldn’t assure accessibility until electoral personnel understood their use, ensured correct dealing with and made them obtainable and practical.
Salami additionally urged officers to establish and report accessibility obstacles, collaborate with related departments and think about voter training supplies, readability of directions, bodily services and personnel conduct.
He referred to as for a people-centred method that integrated PWDs’ experiences and suggestions, including that collaboration amongst INEC, the National Orientation Agency, JONAPWD, civil society organisations and group constructions would enhance consciousness and entry to voter training.
Mrs Mojisola Awelewa, a Desk Officer in INEC’s Disability Unit, introduced an outline of the fee’s incapacity inclusion coverage .
She stated the workshop provided sensible demonstrations, hands-on studying and a chance to establish operational gaps forward of the elections.
“An inclusive electoral process does more than raise turnout among Persons with Disabilities, it strengthens the credibility and legitimacy of the election as a whole,” she stated.
In his goodwill message, Mr Lukman Salami, State Chairman of JONAPWD, recommended INEC’s efforts, and urged the fee to place motion to phrases, whereas additionally calling for a extra common method to incapacity inclusion.
“We have equal right to express our political opinion. For this right to be meaningful, the election process must be accessible and inclusive for PWDs,” he stated.
Mr Muyiwa Yusuff, INEC Head of Department, Voter Registration/ICT, whereas responding to considerations raised by PWDs, stated the fee had executed a lot and continued working to handle considerations about common inclusivity.(NAN)
AYO/MAM/BHB
Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Buhari Bolaji
