ODINAKA EZEOKA in this report, says
that the Center for Citizen with Disabilities (CCD) has pleaded 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.
CCD also urged the National Assembly
to 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 Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) as the case is today.
The Executive Director CCD, David
Anyaele appreciated 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 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.
Anyaele while briefing newsmen
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.
The chairman (JONAPWD) commended his
Excellency Willie Obiano for his re-election and also urge the governor to
continue his good attitude towards people with disabilities.
Center for Citizen with Disabilities (CCD) wants Disability law passed
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Monday, November 27, 2017
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