DUTSE – The Jigawa State chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons Living with Disabilities has called for the inclusion of its members in the current electoral system.
Malam Muhammad Usman, the chairman of association in the state made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Monday.
Muhammad said that there was a need for electoral bodies at all levels to include its physically challenged members in the electoral processes.
He explained that the gesture was to give persons with disabilities a sense of belonging in the society.
The chairman said that it would also ensure the protection of the interest of the physically challenged persons in the country.
Muhammad noted that most of political parties in the country had nothing categorical in their manifesto for the disabled persons compared to what they had for women, children and youths.
He said that persons with disabilities (PWD) also had less or no representation in the leadership structure of the political parties.
Muhammad said non-inclusion of PWD’s associations by electoral bodies in organising elections was also another serious challenge.
He noted that non-inclusion of its members as election observers during election is also a serious challenge.
Muhammad lamented that most non-governmental organisations did not include physically challenged persons while sensitising people on the importance of elections (NAN)
