…as Security TAF Africa insists PWDs should not only vote during elections but also be voted for in any elective position.
The iNews Times reports that Security Agencies in Anambra State has assured TAF Africa that they are ready to protect Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) during the forthcoming Anambra governorship election in the state.
The security agencies comprising the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Services (DSS) stated this in Awka during an Able2Vote event organised by TAF Africa, with Support from the European Union to strengthen inclusion for Persons with Disabilities.
TAF Africa, a disability inclusion champion, has five thematic areas of interest namely: inclusive election, inclusive governance & development, inclusive education, social protection, and human rights & access to justice.
At this event, the security agencies were reminded of their respective roles in constitutional democracy particularly during elections in relations to how they could help PWDs exercise their franchise.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu represented by the Operations Clerk of the Anambra State Police Command, ASP Ndoma Akpo Ndoma promised that police and other security agencies will secure everybody on election day including persons with disabilities.
According to him, the command is working hard to ensure that at least five security officers will man every polling unit in the state.
On her part, the Deputy Commandant NSCDC and Head, Campaign & Electioneering, Anambra State Command, Mrs Stella Onwuakagba described the seminar as timely for NSCDC to acquire more knowledge from interactive session with PWDs on how best to solve their problems on election day.
“We have been adequately trained and equipped to help PWDs exercise their franchise in the forthcoming Anambra Guber election.
“On that day, they will be the first to cast their votes. Our Commandant, Olatunde Maku doesn’t play with them as he has been giving us training and tactical digests to perform optimally.
“We will impart this knowledge to other officers to give helping hand to PWDs, not as a form of pity but as their right to vote,” Mrs Onwuakagba posited.
Addressing the gathering, the Senior Communication Officer, TAF Africa, Lynn Agwuncha said PWDs should not only vote during elections but also be voted for in any elective position of their choice since they have all the needed capabilities and abilities to do so.
According to her, many PWDs are educated and sound, thus have the capabilities to become ministers, commissioners, permanent secretaries, special advisers, senior special assistants among others.
Agwuncha noted that their active participation on the election day is backed by Section 54 of the Electoral Act which mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide all assistive materials needed by PWDs to vote on the election day.
The assistive tools include Magnifying Glass for persons with albinism, Braille for visually impaired persons, Sign Language interpretation for hearing impaired persons and give them preferential treatment by not allowing them cue on the line.
Agwuncha equally advocated for polling units and voting cubicles to be disability friendly by ensuring availability of ramp to those structures to enable persons with physical disability to approach there and vote.
Earlier, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, State Chairman of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), charged the security personnel to ensure holistic protection of PWDs during elections.
Also speaking, Chidinma Ajemba, Public Relations Officer of JONAPWD regretted that restriction of movement on election day hampers movement of physically challenged persons as they are unable to get mobility to their polling units both as voters or election observers.
