Maureen Okpe
Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) have demanded for inclusion in the electoral process at all levels, decrying that about 27.3 million of Nigerian population is too large to be ignored.
The group made the call on Tuesday, during a walk and presentation of the charter of demand for women with disabilities to the Ministry of Justice, in Abuja, organized by the Network of Women with Disability (NWD) in collaboration with Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative(WRAPA).
The Programs Officer at WRAPA, Zainab Abdulrasheed demanded for the removal of any physical barrier faced by Persons With Disability on election day and in the electoral processes to enable them vote in line with Nigeria’s polling system.
Abdulrasheed said, “Women with Disabilities and are coming together to work with election management bodies to ensure that their rights are included in the implementation of electoral processes in Nigeria.
“Part of it is ensuring polling units are accessible for PWDs and be able to participate meaningfully during election to exercise their franchise or voting candidates of their choice and not be intimidated because inaccessibility of polling units can deter prospective voters from exercising their franchise.
“And this is the right time to promote PWDs especially women in the 2023 election and beyond.
“We are carrying out a rally to ensure that we promote inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the forthcoming election. And to do that, we are launching an abridged version of a charter of demands that spells out what the provisions of the laws of Nigeria in disabilities rights are pertaining to the PWDs, particularly women in the forthcoming elections.
“We came to create awareness on this purpose for all stakeholders to come on board and ensure that the forthcoming 2023 election and beyond have to be very inclusive of women with disabilities to ensure that their rights are not infringed upon.
She charged that, “they should not be discriminated for any reasons, they should be part of any development and governance in any society where they may exist.
“That is why we are here for people to know that they have a rights to vote and be voted for and this activity came at the right time towards the 2023 election, where we know that polling is about to take place and we hope INEC has put in place resources to ensure inclusiveness for PWDs and others alike.
On her part, Vice President NWD Rose Daniels stressed the need for women with disability inclusion, stating they have been religated to the background and this is part of a concerted effort the group is making to create an awareness to include PWD in their agenda.
“We want to be heard, To be included in the political sphere, we have capable women with disability who can run for offices and be voted for, to be in the parliament. We are demanding for our 10% quota which I believe is not too much, to have our space in the national polity,” she said.
Media and Communication Officer NWD, FCT Chapter Godiya John reiterated the need for inclusion of women with disabilites in the affairs of government, adding their right to inclusion should not be denied.
“All we are asking is inclusion in politics, governance, health, education. We are asking of inclusion, our rights to vote, rights to be voted for, rights to education, rights to gainful employment.
“We want government to include us in politics, we want them to know that there is so much ability in us, so much we can contribute to the political sphere of the government. So we are asking for inclusion, women generally are asking for just 35 per cent, but we are asking for only 10 per cent from government.
“When you empower a woman with disabilities,you empower the nation because most are mothers. We have been discriminated and abandoned, but when we are empowered it will go along way in the contribution of the development of the country.
Responding, Representative of the Ministry of Justice, Winifred Oyekunle assured the group that issues tabled will be presented to the relevant authorities with a follow up action.
Oyekunle said, “be assured that your issues are always considered as your interest will be protected.
“The Attorney General will do his best as your message will get across and you will be happy with his decision,” she said.
