Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.
Mahmood Yakubu, has reiterated the Commission’s commitment towards ensuring an all-inclusive electoral process in the 2019 general elections and beyond.
Yakubu gave the assurance yesterday during an interactive meeting with representatives of groups of Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) under the leadership of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja.
The INEC boss, who was represented by his National Commissioner and Chairman, Outreach and Partnership Committee, Dr. Adekunle Ladipo Ogunmola, said the Commission was working assiduously to develop the framework for engaging PWDs.
He gave the assurance that the document would soon be considered for adoption in consultation with relevant stakeholders and be validated subsequently.
Yakubu disclosed that the Commission while considering the needs of PWDs in the electoral process had included some PWDfriendly features in the data-capturing process for the on-going nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
The move, he said, would help develop a database of PWDs and identify their various needs in the electoral process.
He commended the JONAPWD for its efforts at ensuring that all eligible Nigerians are included in the electoral process, whether as voters, candidates or as observers, adding that the Commission would support the Association in achieving its set objectives.
Yakubu said INEC as a transparent organisation “will ensure efforts are sustained at deepening the nation’s democracy, as it moves to meet international best practices.
” In her remarks, National Commissioner, Electoral Operations Committee, Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari, said the Commission was working with state governments to design PWD-friendly polling units in the states.
She explained that due to budgetary constraints, the Commission would need stakeholders such as state governments to complement its efforts in ensuring an all-inclusive electoral process.
Earlier, President of Joint Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Mrs.
Ekaete Judith Umoh appreciated the Commission for the consideration given to Persons Living with Disabilities.
She said the meeting would provide the opportunity to work with the Commission in ensuring that the INEC Disability Framework was launched before the 2019 General Elections.
Mrs. Ekaete expressed the readiness of JONAPWD to complement the voter education drive of the Commission and urged INEC to factor the PWDs in the drafting and crafting of Voter Education materials.
