Ahead of the November 8, 2025, governorship election in Anambra State, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), The All Rights Foundation Africa, otherwise known as TAF Africa, has commenced sensitisation campaign for the inclusion of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and other vulnerable persons in the electoral process.

The group said the inclusion of the PWDs in all the electoral processes for the election remained critical to the success of the exercise.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the group announced it commencement at a one-day sensitisation programme tagged: “ABLE2VOTE-Voter Education Campaign to Reduce Voter Apathy and Promote the Mainstreaming of PWDs in the electoral process.

The event was organised for PWDs operating under the banner of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Anambra State Chapter.

Addressing participants at the event held in Onitsha (Anambra North Senatorial District), on Tuesday, the senior communication officer of TAF Africa, Lynn Agwuncha, said the sensitization programme also took place in Awka (Anambra Central Senatorial District) and Nnewi (Anambra South Senatorial District) respectively.

She said the sensitization campaign aims at boosting the moral of the PWDs and other vulnerable persons in the state to involved actively in the voting process without fear of stigmatization, harassment and intimidation.

According to her, TAF Africa is in Anambra State today to commence its advocacy campaign for the inclusion of PWDs in the upcoming November 8, 2025 governorship election.

Our mission is to boost the moral of the PWDs and other vulnerable persons in the state for them to have the confidence to exercise their franchise freely during the voting proper and not to campaign in support of any political party.

Agwuncha, appeal to all the participating political parties and their candidates in the election to also carry along Persons With Disabilities during their election campaigns.

In her remark, the Anambra State Resident Commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Dr Queen Elizabeth Agwu, while commending the group for organizing the programme, said the Commission under her watch has prepared to provide adequate arrangement for the participation of PWDs in the electoral process.

According to Mrs Awgu, who was represented by the Commission’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs Ugonma Julianna, the commission shall take reasonable steps to ensure that persons with disabilities, special needs and vulnerable persons are assisted at the polling units by providing suitable means of communication such as braille, large embossed print, electronic devices, sign language interpration or off-site voting, where necessary.

“We will also ensure that the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise is acceptable to the PWDs.

She reaffirm INEC’s unwavering commitment towards disabilities inclusion in Nigerian Electoral System.

Speaking also at the event, the group’s Senior Programme Officer, George Anwayi, himself a PWD, lamented that with more than 30 million PWDs in Nigeria, and with 65 percent of the figure of voting age, majority of them “are subject of abuse, stigma, prejudice, and discrimination, many times from a young age.”

According to him, the purpose of the programme was “To sensitize Persons with Disabilities on their rights and need to participate in the electoral process and to advocate for deliberate action towards enhancing their inclusion in elections to achieve a strengthened democratic process at the Grassroots in Anambra State.”

Anwayi added that the United Nations (UN), had, as far back as 2011, affirmed that “Political participation is a fundamental aspect of democratic governance, the rule of law, social inclusion and human rights approaches aimed at eliminating marginalisation and discrimination”, lamenting that notwithstanding, PWDs were still discriminated against during elections.

“The INEC Framework on Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Electoral Process, is a comprehensive policy initiative by Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission. It aims to ensure the full and active participation of PWDs in all aspects of the electoral process.