As the Anambra State governorship election draws closer, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), the TAF Africa, has frowned on what it termed the absence of a relevant framework, among other things, as a major factor limiting Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) from participating actively during elections in Nigeria.

Addressing over 400 participants at a voter education campaign for persons with disabilities in Nnewi, Anambra State, TAF Africa also condemned a situation where PWDs were allegedly subjected to abuses, discrimination and humiliations during elections, lamenting that such treatments have had adverse effects on their lives as free citizens.

The group further lamented that the lack of proper voter education is part of the challenges militating against PWDs, which was responsible for voter apathy, low representation, and poor consideration for inclusion in the voter register, arguing that the development has equally had adverse effects on their socio-economic wellbeing.

In an interview, the Programme Manager, TAF Africa, Mr Kilanko Adeolu, who spoke at the voter education campaign for PWDs in Nnewi, recalled that the Federal government has enacted laws, providing for the rights of an individual, including the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (Amended), Electoral Act, etc, which guarantee the rights of citizens to participate in the election, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has equally made provisions and guidelines with the aim that PWDs have adequate attention during elections.

In his recommendations, Kilanko said: “INEC must target PWDs for registration and participation in elections, give full access and freedom of movement to PWDs to voting centres and contribute to socio-political issues, provide incentives to PWDs to improve their representation, adequate sensitisation, ensuring that votes of PWDs count, and adequate security by various security agencies during elections.”