By Ngozi Nwankwo
With a growing population of over 35 million Persons With Disabilities in Nigeria, the Executive Secretary National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, Chief Ayuba Gufwan has assured that the Rights of Persons With Disabilities in Nigeria will always be protected at any given elections.
Gufwan made this assertion on Saturday during an interview with journalists at the situation room set up at the Commission’s Headquarters, Abuja to monitor the participations of Persons with Disabilities at the ongoing Gubernatorial and local government elections in Edo and Kwara States, respectively.
The ES further seized the platform to commend INEC for complying with the provisions of the Discriminations Against Persons With Disabilities 2018 (Prohibition) Act by giving priority to Persons With disabilities while performing their civic responsibilities, as he expressed optimism on the outcome of the elections.
“We are getting positive reports about the special treatments given to Persons with disabilities in some of the wards where elections are taking place today” he added.
Speaking, the National Coordinator, Disability Desk Office NCPWD, Deputy Commandant NSCDC, Patience Andepu informed that a person with disability was sighted at Esan West, Ward 9, pu 001voting without any uneasy feelings.
According to her, at the Oredo local government of Edo State, Units 1,2,3,4,5, there were some visually impaired and wheelchair bound Persons who also were able to perform their Civic Rights.
“However, there was a challenge of accessibility at Edo North , Otaru Ward where a person with physical disability could not gain access to the Unit but, was later assisted by NSCDC Disability Desk officers deployed to the station” she said.
In Kwara State, one of the Media correspondents at Balogun Ward , Unit 10 where the Local Government elections were on, decried the extent of violence which prevented many people from voting.
It was learnt that persons with disabilities were not seen around the polling Center.