As part of his stewardship to the community of Persons With Disabilities at the recent general elections, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. James David Lalu has advocated for the inclusion of the Disability Agenda in the political sphere of Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary made this plea in Abuja, today 27th April, 2023 during an event organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies and Westminster Foundation for Democracy, tagged the “Public Dissemination of Research Report of Political Party Watch Project on Inclusive Practices of Nigeria’s Political Parties”
In his speech, the ES applauded the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhahi’s administration for mandating the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide accessible materials for the participation of Persons with Disabilities at the polls.
“The last election provided the needed platform for the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities through various political parties to exercise their franchise without any atom of prejudice” he said.
In press release signed by Mbanefo JohnMichaels I, Head Press and Public Relations Unit, NCPWD, Mr Lalu equally affirmed that Persons with Disabilities have been able to exhibit their political potentials where some of them were elected at the grassroot levels.
While acknowledging abilities lurked around Disabilities, the National Organizing Secretary, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr. Joseph Ajile who spoke on behalf of other political parties commended the social inclusion of Persons with Disabilities by the political structures.
The Director General, National Institute for Legislative Studies, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman had earlier in his opening remarks, underpinned the growing recognition that democracy is more likely to develop and endure when all segments of society are free to participate and influence outcomes without reprisals.
He, however bemoaned the recent preponderance of divisiveness, ethic and religious sentiments that have beclouded the sustainability of our democracy in Nigeria.
Abubakar also made reference to the absence of Democratic tenets which had led to the uprising in Sudan and seized the occasion to appeal for a truce among aggrieved politicians person back home in Nigeria.
