TQM report,
Centre for Citizen with Disabilities (CCD) has expressed its disappointment on the exclusion of persons with disabilities from the People’s Democratic Party PDP Executive in the just conclude PDP Convention.
The Executive Director of CCD, Mr. David Obinna Anyaele disclosed this in a press release signed by him.
Mr. David said that the action is in violation of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, section 30 which provides that (1) Persons with disabilities shall be encouraged to fully participate In politics and public life. (2) Government shall actively promote an environment in which persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in – (a) the conduct of public affairs without discrimination; (b) non-governmental organizations and associations concerned with the public and political life of the country; and (c) activities and administration of political parties.
He also drew the attention of the party to Article 29 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which provides that States Parties shall guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others, and shall undertake to ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others, directly or through freely chosen representatives, including the right and opportunity for persons with disabilities to vote and be elected among others.
“It is incomprehensible to note the none inclusion of persons with disabilities in the leadership positions of the People’s Democratic Party in the just concluded convention of the party in Abuja”.
“It is unacceptable to also note that out of the 21 elective positions of the National Executive Committee of the party, none is set aside for persons with disabilities neither is there any position for PWDs leader in the party hierarchy”.
“This is a sad reminder of the pains and agony the party caused the disability community during their 16 years reign at the centre. Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, PDP leaders and the then Presidents of Nigeria denied assent to the National Disability Bill. The then Bill, now an Act Provide for the Full Integration Of Persons With Disabilities Into The Society, Establish The National Commission For Their Education, Health Care, Social, Economic And Civil Rights; And For Related Matters”.
“The non-inclusion and provision of office of PDP disability leader in the PDP constitution and the deliberate exclusion of persons with disabilities in the elective positions is a pointer that the future of the disability community in Nigeria is deemed in terms of participation in governance if PDP clicks to power come 2023”.
“We are calling on the PDP leadership to take appropriate measure to implement section 30 of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018. The session provides for the full inclusion of citizens with disabilities in the party elective positions”.
“PDP should include the State and National Disability Leadership positions in their party constitution. This is to ensure inclusion of persons with disabilities in the party structure as obtainable in other parties’ constitution”.
“PDP leaders should know that the days of tokenism and charity based approach to dressing disability issues in Nigeria has gone since January 17, 2019 when President Mohammadu Buhari signed the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018”.
“With our project on enhancing access to justice and political participation of young, women and elderly persons with disabilities which is supported by Voice Nigeria, CCD is committed to the engagement of political parties, in particular the People’s Democratic Party to enhance persons with disabilities participation in party politics”.
