Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has urged the Lagos State Office for Disabilities Affairs (LASODA) to make deliberate efforts to always ascertain from LASIEC that electoral materials are available and accessible in understandable and usable format for all persons with disabilities in future elections.
Mr. Peter Ekemele, the program officer of CCD while presenting the report findings on the last local government elections in the State said LASODA as a matter of urgency, monitor the system in terms of looking at those materials to ensure that they are provided and also work with LASIEC in the allocation of those materials in different places where persons with disabilities will be participating in the election. “LASODA should collaborate with LASIEC to ensure PwDs are not left behind as election observers, ad-hoc staff and key stakeholders in future elections” He added.
The general manager of LASODA, Mr. Dare Dairo commended CCD for addressing critical systems that influence a dignify living and social inclusion of persons with disabilities. Accordingly to him, the report will serve as a good reference point. “We are already engaging with political actors to ensure how people with disability will be adequately provided for in the coming election”, He said. According to him, part of the process also include in seeing how INEC can help to make dedicated efforts of person with disability to get their PVC. “Last election, we were complaining of people apathy but now Nigerians are awakened and PwDs should not be left out”, he added. He also hope CCD will oblige to render assistance towards having INEC official assigned to Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria (SCIAN) centre because they might not have the strength to do the registration.
Mrs. Showumi Omolade, the Admin and human resource of LASODA also narrated her experience some years back during election where a visually impaired electorate was assisted in voting for candidate against his preferred candidate of choice. She encourages that the electoral process should be accessible to all in the subsequent elections.
