ABOUT 200 persons with disabilities will be deployed as election observers in the forthcoming Kogi governorship election slated for 16th November 2019.
The Deputy Country Director, National Democratic Institute (NDI) Mr. Raymond Esebagbon stated this on Wednesday when the Challenge Parenthood Initiative paid the Secretary to the Kogi State Government Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade an advocacy visit on the need to stop violence against women in the election and to ensure more women participation in the polls.
Esebagbon in his remarks noted that this will be accomplished in collaboration with other NGO’s which include National Democratic Institute (NDI), Inclusive Friends Associate (IFA), Challenge Parenthood Initiative (CPI), and Center for Democracy, USAID and Development (CDD).
While noting that his organization has over the years support good governance in the country, Esebagbon stressed that the injection of people with disabilities into the election process, will promote inclusiveness in the system.
Esebagbon maintained that, one of the goals of the organization was to ensure that more women and youths participate in politics, just as he emphasized that the non-governmental organization is committed to supporting issued based campaign as well as combating the menace of fake news before, during and after the polls.
He disclosed that as part of efforts to drive home the campaign of achieving a violence free election in the state, a veteran musician 2Baba will be in Kogi State next week, to sensitize electorates on the need for hitch free election.
According to him, about seven states including Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Adamawa, Lagos, Anambra and Enugu, have keyed into the campaign to stop violence against women in election.
Esebagbon who commended the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for appointing more women in his cabinet since the state was created 28 years ago, said the campaign will not yield fruit if the government failed to throw in their support.
He however listed health, education, Job creation, public and civil service reform as well as infrastructural development as some of the primary thematic areas that the government should look into, if it must succeed in the state.
In her response, Secretary to Kogi State Government, Mrs. Folashade Arike Ayoade, describes the state as a confluence of opportunity and stated that the present administration was determined to leave a legacy that would not be forgotten in the country.(Freshangle)
