by Chris Agbo
INEC have accepted to assist Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) in their proposed disaggregated data gathering of voters with disabilities (VWDs) in 12 states.
This was disclosed through a letter addressed to IFA on the 12th August, 2020 signed by Rose Oriaran Anthony (Secretary to the Commission). INEC stated that they will assist IFA in the following areas a, Publishing sensitization messages for the data collection exercise on INEC’s Television, Radio and Social Media Platform, b, Assigning PWD Desk Officers in the twelve (12) states to assist in data collection of PWDs that would visit INEC offices during the period and c, Facilitating a meeting of IFA representative s and the relevant Departments (ICT, VR and VEP) to discuss methodology.
Recalling that IFA proposed disaggregated data collection for voters with disabilities in 12 states known as Data for Inclusion Project is funded by Voice. The major goal is to increase the participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria’s political and electoral processes by collecting disaggregated data of PWDs and influencing the reduction of physical barriers and stigma that make it difficult for PWDs to participate in elections, the project has trained over 180 PWDs as data enumerators.
The trainings were done both physical and virtual. They were trained on the methodology that is jointly agreed on by organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The enumerators would be collecting data of VWDs in 13 states (Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Plateau, Gombe, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Anambra, Sokoto and Kano). On the interim, Edo and Ondo state’s data are collected to influence INEC’s deployment of voting / election materials in usable formats to polling units where PWDs would be voting on Election Day.
IFA and its partners, Network for the Advancement of Rights of Persons with Visible Disabilities (NAPVID) in Edo and the Ondo state Disabled Welfare Agency (ODWA) have recruited PWD leaders in the 2 local governments areas (LGAs) in the 13 states to manually collect these data from local communities and also set up a technological centre to electronically facilitate the collection of the PWD data from most of the urban centres. Massive media sensitization programs would also be conducted to create awareness on how PWDs can send their data into the database. IFA, its partners and INEC Nigeria would jointly conduct this sensitization.
In the lead up to the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, IFA and its partners would hold a PWD focused Live TV Manifesto debates for governorship candidates in Edo and Ondo states to provide opportunity for PWD leaders ask for inclusive policies from prospective governors. PWD leaders in all the local governments in both states would be trained on issue-based approaches to prepare them for the debates.
Tomorrow 21st August 2020, IFA will be holding a meeting with ICT department of INEC to take them through IFA methodology on the Data collection.
See the INEC acceptance letter to assist IFA
