CENTER FOR CITIZEN WITH DISABILITIES SHARE THEIR OBSERVATION IN THE JUST CONCLUDED ANAMBRA GOVERNIORSHIP ELECTION.

CENTER FOR CITIZEN WITH DISABILITIES SHARES THEIR OBSERVATIONS IN THE JUST CONCLUDED GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

 

CENTER FOR CITIZEN WITH DISABILITIES SHARES THEIR OBSERVATIONS IN THE JUST CONCLUDED GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAYS GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE LEGAL BACKING INSTEAD OF CHARITY BASED APPROACH USED BY INEC.

BY BENEDICT ODINAKA.

The center for citizen with disabilities(CCD) in partnership with Joint National Association of persons with Disabilities(JONAPWD) during the just concluded governorship election in Anambra State deployed selected but well trained 45 persons with disabilities(PWDs) observers covering the 3 senatorial districts of the state using statistical principles and information and communication technologies( ICTs), to observe the November 18, 2017 election. In a press briefing held in Awka, the executive director of (JONAPWD)  David Anyaele  said that the methodology adopted for the exercise was random sampling of polling units in all the local government area. The PWD observers in spite of their disabilities turned in their checklist in less than 24 hours after the election observation. He added.

Speaking on the pre-election consultation the director said that several consultation meetings and briefing were held with INEC officials to access INEC preparedness for the election and to access the synergy between INEC, security agent and stakeholders and discovers that the significant numbers of venues used by NEC were not accessible by physically challenged persons.  This is a clear indication that PWDs were not put in view in determining the the venue of such important meetings. He said.

He equally lamented on the distribution of braille information, education and communication materials to Nigeria Association of the blind (NAB) Anambra chapter which came 48 hours to the election day adding that without logistics it is evident that provisions for persons with disabilities were poor.Meanwhile the director also said that across the 360 sampled polling units in Anambra State, indicate that there is a slight improvement by INEC on Ondo and Edo states elections in an inclusive electoral process but however maintains that there is still more to be done in organizing all inclusive election in Nigeria.  "70 percent of the total polling units observed shows that persons with disabilities on wheelchair can cast their vote without being helped while 30 percent shows that the ballot boxes were placed in a manner that will deny PWDs on wheelchair their  franchise unless helped by someone. In a related statement he said that 13 percent had a provision that supports deaf persons while 87 percent had none while minimal provisions was made for the visually impaired PWDs as only 19 percent of the observers reports provision that supports ballots in 81 percents of the polling units for visually impaired.

 The executive director pleads with Anambra state house of assembly to pass disability bill that will grant criminalization  of all forms of discrimination and harmful practices against Ndi Anambra with disabilities.And also the National assembly should urgently strengthen section 52(2) of the 2010 electoral act by making the provision of braille and sign language interpreters mandatory as opposed to leaving it to the desecration of INEC as the case is today.    

In conclusion the director appreciate the media, the INEC and the Nigerian police for their efforts in including the PWDs in electioneering and electoral process in Nigeria but insists that Nigeria is still far from international good practices saying that INEC and other stakeholders in electoral process to take a practical steps and do the needful for all inclusive society and equal voting access to persons with disabilities in Nigeria.

The chairman (JONAPWD) commended his excellency Wille Obiano for his re-election and also urge the governor to continue his good attitude towards people with disabilities. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAYS GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROVIDE LEGAL BACKING INSTEAD OF CHARITY BASED APPROACH USED BY INEC.

The center for citizen with disabilities(CCD) in partnership with Joint National Association of persons with Disabilities(JONAPWD) during the just concluded governorship election in Anambra State deployed selected but well trained 45 persons with disabilities(PWDs) observers covering the 3 senatorial districts of the state using statistical principles and information and communication technologies( ICTs), to observe the November 18, 2017 election. In a press briefing held in Awka, the executive director of (JONAPWD)  David Anyaele  said that the methodology adopted for the exercise was random sampling of polling units in all the local government area. The PWD observers in spite of their disabilities turned in their checklist in less than 24 hours after the election observation. He added.
Speaking on the pre-election consultation the director said that several consultation meetings and briefing were held with INEC officials to access INEC preparedness for the election and to access the synergy between INEC, security agent and stakeholders and discovers that the significant numbers of venues used by NEC were not accessible by physically challenged persons.  This is a clear indication that PWDs were not put in view in determining the the venue of such important meetings. He said.
He equally lamented on the distribution of braille information, education and communication materials to Nigeria Association of the blind (NAB) Anambra chapter which came 48 hours to the election day adding that without logistics it is evident that provisions for persons with disabilities were poor.Meanwhile the director also said that across the 360 sampled polling units in Anambra State, indicate that there is a slight improvement by INEC on Ondo and Edo states elections in an inclusive electoral process but however maintains that there is still more to be done in organizing all inclusive election in Nigeria.  "70 percent of the total polling units observed shows that persons with disabilities on wheelchair can cast their vote without being helped while 30 percent shows that the ballot boxes were placed in a manner that will deny PWDs on wheelchair their  franchise unless helped by someone. In a related statement he said that 13 percent had a provision that supports deaf persons while 87 percent had none while minimal provisions was made for the visually impaired PWDs as only 19 percent of the observers reports provision that supports ballots in 81 percents of the polling units for visually impaired.
 The executive director pleads with Anambra state house of assembly to pass disability bill that will grant criminalization  of all forms of discrimination and harmful practices against Ndi Anambra with disabilities.And also the National assembly should urgently strengthen section 52(2) of the 2010 electoral act by making the provision of braille and sign language interpreters mandatory as opposed to leaving it to the desecration of INEC as the case is today.    
In conclusion the director appreciate the media, the INEC and the Nigerian police for their efforts in including the PWDs in electioneering and electoral process in Nigeria but insists that Nigeria is still far from international good practices saying that INEC and other stakeholders in electoral process to take a practical steps and do the needful for all inclusive society and equal voting access to persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
The chairman (JONAPWD) commended his excellency Wille Obiano for his re-election and also urge the governor to continue his good attitude towards people with disabilities.