Anambra: INEC to provide magnifiers for albinos, EU hails Jonathan 2015 example

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that electorates living with albinism will be aided with vision magnifiers to vote during the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra state.

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, stated this when the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

He said the initiative was to enable albinos properly identify the logos of political parties in the ballot paper before casting their votes.

While he noted that the magnifying glasses would be provided to albinos at all the polling units in the state, he stressed that it would fast-track the voting process at polls.

He however called on all those living with albinism in the state to ensure that they participate fully in the exercise.

The Anambra election is billed for November 18, 2017, “One of the things we introduced in the forthcoming Anambra election based on representation from the association of those living with albinism is the provision of magnifying glasses at the polling units to enable them see the logos of the parties and make their choices.

“We have made provision for magnifying glasses in all the polling units in Anambra on November 18,” he said.

Yakubu pointed out that the Commission had implemented eight of the recommendations of the EU-EOM in the post-2015 elections, adding that 22 of the recommendations were beyond the electoral body.

He listed the implemented recommendations to include: biometric identification of voters, simultaneous accreditation and voting by electorate among others.

On his part, Team Leader, Santiago Fisas, said they were at the INEC headquarters to discuss ways of improving Nigeria’s electoral system.

The team also paid a courtesy call on the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where the Committee’s national chairman, Ahmed Makarfi thanked the EU for supporting the country in many respects.

The EU delegation praised former President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat and handing power over the then opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

Fisas, added that the 2015 was conducted in a fair way said Jonathan has shown that he is a statesman and leader.

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