Abuja- The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was making efforts to remove all barriers that prevented Persons Living with Disabilities (PLDs) from accessing the electoral process.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said this at a conference on “Mainstreaming into the Electoral Process Persons Living with Disabilities’’ in Abuja on Thursday.
Jega, who was represented by a National Commissioner, Dr Chris Iyimoga, said right engagement of PLDs, who constituted 25 per cent of the national demography, were necessary.
“PWDs have been under represented in not just the electoral and political process in Nigeria, but in almost all spheres.
“Also some very important voter education materials such as Frequently Asked Questions, Guide to Transfer of Registration, etc should be produced in Braille for the benefit of our visually impaired brothers and sisters.
“However, permit me to state at this point that the commission can only do what it is legally empowered to do.
“We need to have a legal framework in place that will empower the commission in its quest for equitable and participatory democratic process,’’ Jega said.
In her remarks, the Deputy Chief of Mission at United States Embassy in Abuja, Maria Brewer, said the mission had followed with interest the progress of the disability bill before the National Assembly.
Brewer said that U.S. was looking forward to a law that would have a positive impact on PLDs in the electoral arena and elsewhere.
“Of course, the U.S. and other international partners can provide some supports, but the most critical driver of progress for persons living with disabilities will come from within Nigeria, government and the civil society representatives,’’ she said.
Brewer said the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was committed to disability-inclusive development and had focused on expanding access to the electoral process among them.
“USAID is supporting the work of partners like the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, the International Republican Institute, and the National Democratic Institute, to ensure that persons with disabilities remain enfranchised.’’(NAN)