The Executive Director of the Center for Citizens with Disabilities; Mr. David Anyaele, has termed the signing of the electoral bill into law by President Buhari on Friday 25th February 2022 as a victory for equal opportunity, inclusion, and the promotion of political participation for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria.
It could be recalled that the previous electoral act provides that the Independent National Electoral Commission MAY make provisions for PWDs during elections in Nigeria, but with the bill signed into an Act, this provision has been changed to SHALL making it mandatory for INEC to take appropriate measure to ensure that citizens with disabilities have unhindered access to electoral process on equal basis with others.
The signing of this bill was not as smooth and easy, it required collective efforts of civil society organization, to partner and strive for the struggle not just only for the survival of our democracy, but for the incorporation of PWDs in the promotion of the democracy of Nigeria.
The Center congratulated Nigeria on this feat and insists that it will continue to fight for the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
