The Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC), which is the statutory conglomeration of all the Registered Political Parties, the Ekiti State Chapter has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide an alternative voting method for the persons with disabilities.
This is in a statement made by the Ekiti State IPAC Chairman, Ifedayo Iyaniwura, being a guest on a live Radio Program, titled; The Role Of IPAC In Advancing The Political Participation of PWDS In Ekiti State. According to him, “the reluctance of Political Parties, particularly the party leaders to include persons with disabilities in party affairs is often based on misconception that the majority of persons with disabilities could only be voted for, but could not vote, which of course calls for a serious concern due to their population in the Country.”
Ifedayo Iyaniwura, the Ekiti IPAC Chairman goes further that the inability of the people with disabilities to be a voter in Nigeria is the fact that, the Registration and Voting processes are not disability sensitive, it is never at their advantage.
According to him, “there are no sign language interpreters at the registration and polling booths for the deaf and dumbs, so also the Blinds can not access the Electoral Materials because the said materials are not in Braille, the Amputees and Leprosy Survivors are also disenfranchised because they do not have thumb, hence could not cast a vote, and even in most cases, the wheelchair users could not physically access both the registration area and polling booths.”
In lieu to the aforesaid, Ifedayo Iyaniwura, the Ekiti State IPAC Chairman thereby made a recommendation on the live Radio Program that, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be endeavored to provide an Alternative Voting Method, and to create an avenue for Priority Voting for the Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria.
