by Chinwe Onuigbo, Awka,
The Anambra State chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, JONAPWD, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to address challenges observed by its members who participated in the recent 2023, general election, in order to provide favourable conditions for its members in future elections.
The challenges, according to the state Chairman of the association, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, and the state Publicity Secretary, Comrade Chidimma Ajemba, included lack of accessibility to some facilities where polling units were located by the physically challenged, especially wheelchair users, lack of sign language interpreters for the deaf voters, and unavailability of EC40H and EC30E forms.
Others were unavailability of braille ballot papers for the visually impaired voters, unavailability of magnifying glasses for persons with albinism, and lack of co-operation by some ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The association explained that aside marring efforts at ensuring enduring inclusive voter participation, the challenges mentioned can lead to voter apathy if not followed up with appropriate remedial actions.
The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for fulfilling its earlier promises by ensuring that no person with disability was disenfranchised including the development of online data collection platform where its members were encouraged to report their experiences.
Speaking on Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s one year in office,the association lauded the governor for the employment of some of their colleagues in the last employment exercise in the state.
They also appreciated Governor Soludo for his efforts in making Anambra livable and proferring the right solution to burning issues especially insecurity.
