By Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka,
The Joint National Association of People with Disabilities (JONAPWD), in Anambra State, has lamented its exclusion by political parties, which feel they are irrelevant during elections.
The Chairman of JONAPWD in the state, Ugochukwu Okeke, who made the observation, yesterday, in Awka, during a media briefing, in commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the Disabilities Rights Law 2018, in the state, accused political parties of excluding its members in their activities, particularly ahead of the 2023 general elections.
He said they have mobilised members to register, and those who have registered are encouraged to go collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), insisting the public would be surprised to see the number of persons with disabilities that would come out to vote.
Threatening that the group would take advantage of their numerical strength to demonstrate their relevance during the polls, he warned that it is risky to take for granted a body with large number of persons, particularly, in a democracy.
Wondering why political parties don’t have plans to include Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in their structures, Okeke said: “All of them have woman leader, youth leader and others, but don’t have disability leader, who will help in mobilising our members.
“If they do not have deliberate plans to include us in their structures, then they should not boast of having inclusive party system. They must have to reserve certain positions for PWDs, at least at the ward level, to motivate our members.”
