Bayelsa poll: Votes Buying, Undermining PWDs caused chaos – TAF Africa
The European Union (EU) observers group protecting the rights of Persons With Disabilities (PWD), TAF Africa, has stated that some political party agents created chaos and disorderliness in different Polling units during Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa state. They urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to heighten vigilance and enforcement of electoral laws to […]
Disabilities in Nigerian elections
The European Union (EU) observers group protecting the rights of Persons With Disabilities (PWD), TAF Africa, has stated that some political party agents created chaos and disorderliness in different Polling units during Saturday’s governorship election in Bayelsa state.
They urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to heighten vigilance and enforcement of electoral laws to maintain a free and fair electoral environment in the future exercise.
Speaking with newsmen in Yenagoa on Sunday, the Chief Executive Officer and founder, TAF Africa, convener, disability inclusion Nigeria, Amb. Jake Epelle, said there was a positive development on the part of INEC, on the overall experience of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) during the 2023 off-cycle election, in contrast to the general election held earlier in the year.
Represented by the team leader to Bayelsa governorship election, Mr Miyiwa Aderibigbe, said the specific assistive tools including the Braille ballot guide for the blind, large graphic posters for the deaf, and magnifying glasses for persons with albinism were deployed by INEC.
He said: “TAF Africa notes with concern the recorded incident of PWD voter inducement in the off-cycle states. For instance, in St. Luke Sec school, Agudama Epie polling unit, Epie ward 1, Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa state, some party agents engaged in vote buying, thereby causing chaos and disorderliness in the polling unit.
“This challenges the integrity of the electoral process and emphasizes the need for heightened vigilance and enforcement of electoral laws to maintain a free and fair electoral environment.
“With a team of 30 trained observers deployed in each state; particularly in polling units with the highest number of registered persons with disabilities, our primary focus was evaluating the compliance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the deployment of assistive tools for persons with disabilities, access to priority voting in line with the electoral act as well as the overall experience of persons with disabilities at the polls.
“In a positive development, there was a notable improvement in the participation and overall experience of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) during the 2023 off-cycle election, in contrast to the general election held earlier in the year.
“TAF Africa acknowledges the efforts made by INEC in enhancing accessibility and inclusivity for PWDs in the electoral process.
“We acknowledge the commendable efforts made by INEC to enhance the participation and overall experience of PWDs in the 2023 off-cycle election. Compared to the previous election, there was a noticeable improvement in providing necessary assistive tools and ensuring a more inclusive voting process.
“Bayelsa state recorded the highest percentage of deployment at 61% based on the 30 selected polling units, while Kogi and Imo state experienced low deployment at 36% and 33% respectively, raising concerns about the consistency of INEC’s implementation of disability-inclusive measures,” he said.